Aligarh, August 15: At least 7 persons were injured on Sunday when police opened fire on violent farmers protesting alleged detention of one of their leaders spearheading the agitating for higher compensation for land acquired for a township at a village 45km from here.
The violence broke out when the farmers went on the rampage ransacking a police outpost and setting afire a bus after a rumour spread that one of the farmer leaders was arrested by authorities at Jikarpur village near Uttar Pradesh-Haryana border.
The farmers resorted to heavy brickbatting, after which police opened fire, Aligarh City SP Man Singh Chauhan said adding seven persons were injured and admitted to hospital.
District authorities denied media reports about the killing of any farmer in the police action.
They said the farmer leader was not detained or arrested but was taken for a discussion in a bid to work out a negotiated settlement of the problem.
The farmers of the area have been on a path of agitation demanding higher compensation rate for the land acquired for a township project by a leading real estate group along the Delhi-Agra Taj Expressway.
The farmers want the same compensation rate which was given to owners of the land acquired between Aligarh and Noida.
The agitation is spreading from Aligarh to Mathura and authorities have sent Rapid Action Force and Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel to Jikarpur village.
—PTI—