At least 20 farmers were injured after police resorted to lathicharge to stop the farmers demanding 10 per cent developed lands of the acquired land and 64.7 per cent additional compensation from entering the authority campus on Tuesday.
Scores of farmers had gathered at Greater Noida authority to demand to release of 10 per cent developed land of their acquired land and 64.7 per cent additional compensation after the Supreme Court order.
They were also demanding 25 per cent reservation of locals for admission in educational intuitions in Greater Noida and job placement in the private companies. They wanted 25 per cent discount in medical facilities for farmers. After peaceful demonstration, the farmers decided to submit a memorandum to authority officials and forcibly tried to enter the campus.
Police tried to stop them and later lathicharged to disperse the farmers, said sources. “We wanted to submit a memorandum in authority but policemen started thrashing the farmers and then lathi charged on us. However, we were demonstrating peacefully,” said Manveer Bhati, farmer leader from Kisan Sangrash Samiti.
“We want action against guilty police official who ordered lathicharge. We will intensify protest against authority officials to fulfill our demands,’’ he added.
Authority officials denied to comment on the issue.
“We tried to convince them but there was a scuffle and police had to use lathicharge to disperse them. A few of them got injured with minor wounds. We are only trying to control the law-and order situation.” Superintendent of police, Greater Noida (Rural) Abhishek Yadav said.