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Agitating farmers turn violent, burn vehicles
Continuing with their two-month-long agitation against the state government’s land acquisition policy, farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district on Saturday blocked traffic and set vehicles on fire, braving rubber bullets fired by the paramilitary troops.
Continuing with their two-month-long agitation against the state government’s land acquisition policy, farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district on Saturday blocked traffic and set vehicles on fire, braving rubber bullets fired by the paramilitary troops.
A dozen of farmers were injured as the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel fired rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who blocked a main road in Mirzapur, set ablaze three vehicles and pelted stones at the PAC men, a senior police officer said.
“When we asked them to lift the blockade they turned violent. They pelted stones and damaged vehicles. PAC men fired rubber bullets to scare the crowd away as mild lathicharge had no effect on farmers, said “Rakesh Kumar Jolly, the superintendent of police.
“Several farmers were carrying countrymade pistols and even licenced revolvers. They were reported to have fired at police men,” he said, adding that a dozen of demonstrators were arrested.
The official said that the Bhatta Parsaul farmers, who had been holding peaceful protest since January 17, were instigated by their leader Manvir Singh Tevatia.
In another agitation at Pari Chowk, workers of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) led a group of farmers who blocked the main highway for two hours on Friday.
The agitators said several farmers were injured in police lathicharge at Pari Chowk.
They also accused the paramilitary troops of manhandling family members of the demonstrators to suppress the agitation.
“PAC men assaulted the innocent farmers at Mirzapur. They barged into the houses and manhandled the women members too. Around a dozen persons have suffered injuries. Police force took the injured with them.,” said Neeraj Malik, one of the protesters at Bhatta Parsaul.
“Adminstration want to suppress the agitation by using force. They have even threatened farmers of other villages not to take part in dharna,” Malik said.
Farmers have been demanding compensation at the rate of 80% of the residential plot rates for their acquired land. They also demand that only 50% of their land should be acquired and rest should remain with farmers for agriculture use.
The fresh protests were held a day after the UP cabinet minister Laxmi Narain met with the agitating farmers. After the meeting, the minister said Friday that his government’s land acquisition policy is the best among all other states.
Explaining the government’s policy, the minister said besides the compensation of Rs850 per square meter, the farmers are entitled for Rs20,000 per acre of their acquired land for the next 33 years.
Moreover, if they want they can claim one time payment of Rs2.40 lakh per acre., he said, adding that the farmers are also given 7% of the developed land on sharing basis.
