BJP calls bandh in tense west UP

Parts of western Uttar Pradesh hit by farmers’ unrest over land acquisition remained tense on Tuesday but largely under control with tight security as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for a bandh protesting police brutality.

Sketches of 24 trouble-makers were released, who the police said incited violence, as the BJP called for the bandh in Greater Noida and Noida, asking shopkeepers to pull down their shutters.

A senior police official said that the epicentre of the protests, Bhatta Parsaul village, where four persons, including two policemen were killed in clashes on Saturday, was kept under heavy deployment of forces.

Police were also looking out for a man called Manveer Singh Tewatia and his five aides for allegedly instigating the farmers? agitation, who has been leading the protests since January 17.

A Rs 50,000 reward was also announced by the state government for Tewatia, who has over 20 cases pending against him.

Meanwhile, the Bhatta Parsaul village continued to bear a deserted look as reports said most men have either fled fearing harassment by the police or are lodged in hospitals after being injured in the violence.

Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the farmers’ unrest.

The Jat leader, whose party has influence in the area, demanded that the Centre set up an inquiry commission to look into the ‘faulty’ land acquisition policy of the Uttar Pradesh government.

?We would like the Centre to probe at what price the land has been acquired, for what purpose and who has benefited from the acquired land?” Singh had said earlier.

Ajit Singh has also targeted Chief Minister Mayawati for use of force to quell the agitation over land acquisition for the Yamuna Expressway.

Four people, including two policemen, were killed and 13 injured in clashes between villagers and police forces during an operation to rescue three government officials on Saturday in Greater Noida caught in a protest against land acquisition by the state.

The incident spurred nationwide outrage as an unified opposition of the state?s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government, including the Congress and BJP, slammed Chief Minister Mayawati for the heavy police crackdown on the farmers.

BJP leader Rajnath Singh was detained by the police as he tried to enter Greater Noida to support the farmers? agitation on Monday.

Singh, Samjwadi Party (SP) leaders Shivpal Singh Yadav (brother of Mulayam Singh) and Mohan Singh and their supporters were taken into custody as they marched towards Greater Noida violating the prohibitory orders clamped there.

The farmers have been demanding good compensation for their land acquired by the Uttar Pradesh government and had also taken three state-run roadways employees hostage since Friday.

Security personnel managed to rescue the hostages on Saturday but several farmers, policemen including the District Magistrate (DM) Deepak Aggarwal and an SSP were injured in the ensuing clashes.

The administration has now imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the area to prevent further violence. The entire village has been taken over by the police including top officials who are camping at the site.