Death toll in Greater Noida farmers' agitation rises to four

Greater Noida, May 8 (ANI): The death toll in farmers' agitation in Greater Noida has risen to four, with another farmer succumbing to his injuries on Sunday. The violence has now spread to Agra with reports of clash with police coming from different parts of west Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh Police has announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for the man who is leading the farmers' stir at Greater Noida. Police.

Bhatta Parsaul in Greater Noida turned into a battlefield on Saturday, resulting in two jawans from the Provincial Armed Constabulary and one villager getting killed. Several others were injured when a clash broke out between farmers and the police.

Deepak Aggarwal, the District Magistrate and S N Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Buddh Nagar (NOIDA) were grievously injured during clashes between protesting farmers and the police personnel at Greater Noida, on the outskirts of national capital, New Delhi on Saturday.

They were rushed to the Kailash Hospital in Noida where the doctors said the condition of both the top district civil officials was critical and they are still not out of danger.

"We can confirm after six to eight hours that SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) is out of danger. The DM (District Magistrate) has been operated upon there is no danger. But if any vessel or nerve has been cut that can be discovered only after 24 hours," said Dr. Mahesh Sharma, a senior specialist of Kailash Hospital, Noida.

The doctors appealed to locals to bring the injured to the hospital so that their life could be saved.

"If any person finds an injured person - whether he is a policeman or a farmer - please help them and bring him to hospital so that his life could be saved with free treatment," added Dr. Sharma.

The fiery altercation began when the protesting farmers at a village named Bhatta Parsaul pelted stones at police officials, who retaliated by baton charge followed by firing teargas shells at the agitators to end the conflict.

Enraged by police action, the mob went out of control, attacking the personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), a police contingent.

The farmers have been agitating since January 2011 demanding higher compensation for their lands acquired by the state government.

Their demand is that only half their lands should be acquired while the rest should be handed over to the farmers after development.

They also want 25 percent reservation for farmers in all schemes of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway.

Apart from this, the farmers have also been demanding for the authorities to give 120 square metre plots to landless farmers and a compensation of rupees 5,00,000 (11,180.68 USD) for each acre of acquired land. (ANI)