Aligarh, Aug 15 (IANS) Hundreds of agitating farmers blockaded a 20-km-stretch of highway here Sunday to demand higher compensation for land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway and damaged property belonging to Jaypee Associates that is executing the project.
Parts of Aligarh and Mathura districts were rocked by violence Saturday night, leading to exchange of fire between the police and protesters, which left two dead and a dozen injured.
On Sunday, despite intensified deployment of armed policemen in both Tappal area in Aligarh district and Naujheel area of Mathura district, the protesting farmers resorted to renewed violence, attacking properties of Jaypee Associates.
The 165 km-long 8-lane expressway connecting Noida to Agra is aimed at reducing the driving time between New Delhi and Agra to just about 90 minutes. It is expected to make a lot of difference to foreign tourists headed for the Taj Mahal.
According to sources in Aligarh, the police had to fire teargas to disperse the protesting farmers from the highway. No casualties were reported Sunday.
Meanwhile, two of the 12 injured were shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for treatment as their condition was stated to be critical.
The protesters are demanding compensation for the acquired land at the rate paid to farmers in Noida and Greater Noida.
Violence erupted Saturday after the arrest of popular local farmers’ leader Ram Babu Katheria, who had been spearheading the agitation for higher compensation.
Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of police Brij Lal told IANS Sunday: ‘We have cleared the road that was blocked by the protesters, who have gone back to their ‘dharna’ at Tappal village.’
Asked if the government was considering the demand for release of Katheria, he ruled it out.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, speaking to reporters, termed the firing on protesting farmers as ‘the most barbarous act of the Mayawati government’.
He also demanded compensation of Rs.20 lakh for each of those killed in the firing, adding that the party would raise the issue in parliament.
