With every passing day, farmers in the area are turning more hostile. On Friday, some agitating farmers allegedly held hostage three employees of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) in Greater Noida. Till late evening, the employees were not released. They have warned other officials not to negotiate with them, otherwise they, too, would meet a similar fate.
The farmers, who are protesting against the state government’s land acquisition policies and demanding higher land compensation, said they would pacify only after talks with the UP chief minister.
Farmer leader Manvir Singh Tevatia said, “Even after the last month visits of Meerut commissioner, there has been no headway in the negotiation. This has forced us to held officials hostage. Now, we will talk only to the UP chief minister. Any official coming to talk to us will be held hostage. It will continue till our demands are met and farmers get higher compensation.”
“Over 1,000 farmers have been booked for violence. An entire generation of farmers has got embroiled in legal battles,” said a farmer leader.