Greater Noida:
Violent clashes between farmers and policemen have claimed the lives of two cops at the Bhattapur village in Greater Noida. The District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar and several policemen have also been injured.
The farmers, who are protesting against land acquisition and demanding employment, had taken two policemen and three state transport employees hostage.
The clashes occurred when the police tried to rescue the hostages.
PTI adds:The agitating farmers of Bhatta Parsaul village in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, a Delhi suburb, claimed that a protester was killed in police firing and several others were missing after the area witnessed pitched battles between villagers and security personnel for several hours.
Violence erupted after a large contingent of security personnel reached the village yesterday to free the three abducted roadways employees - driver Deependra and two supervisors Durgesh Bharadwaj and Niranjan Singh- who had been held captive by the villagers since Friday when they had gone there for survey work.
The farmers, armed with sticks, retaliated and also started pelting stones. The police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the mob. Soon firing began from both ends.
Two jawans of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) were declared brought dead at the nearby Kailash Hospital. Doctors said they had bullet wounds.
The DM, who went to the village hoping to resolve the hostage crisis through talks, suffered a bullet injury and was also rushed to Kailash hospital where he was operated upon, police said.
Officials said the DM's condition was stable.
Besides Aggarwal, other injured include an SSP, two Deputy SPs and a City Magistrate and five PAC men.
Blaming the Mayawati government for the violence in Greater Noida, the Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh alleged that it was indulging in "loot of farmers' land" and that the incident reflected the anarchy that prevailed in the state.
"In the home district of Mayawati, farmers are being shot dead. Farmers' land is being acquired at throw away prices," UPPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi.
"It is government of looters and land acquisition has become their favourite pastime. People have lost their confidence in Mayawati," she said.
Supporting the agitating farmers, the BJP accused the UP government of suppressing democratic movements in the state.
"Whatever happened... it is an example that the law and order situation has crumbled in Uttar Pradesh. It is an anarchy," a BJP spokesperson said.
Favouring a dialogue with the agitating farmers, the party said that due compensation should be given to them.
The farmers have been agitating since January 17 for better compensation for their land acquired by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Meanwhile, the Jaypee Group today denied reports that the ongoing farmers' agitation in the city is related to any of their projects, including Yamuna Expressway and Formula One Motor Racing track developed at Dankaur near Greater Noida.