Farmers clash with Indian police over new expressway

Farmers clash with Indian police over new expressway

2011-05-09 03:36:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI, INDIA (BNO NEWS) -- Angry farmers on Sunday went on a rampage in northern India as they continued protesting against the state's government's land policies, the Hindustan Times reported.

Farmers pelted stones at police and set fires to vehicles in Agra. Director General of Police Aseem Arun said two policemen had been hurt in the violence and two police vehicles were damaged.

The latest incidents were triggered by news of farmer-police clashes in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida, bordering Delhi. Farmers are demanding a higher financial compensation for land they say has been forcibly taken away from them to build the Yamuna Expressway.

The expressway is set to cut traveling time from Greater Noida to the Taj Mahal town of Agra. Company officials say the project would be complete before November-end.

On Saturday, two farmers and two policemen were killed in clashes in Bhatta Parsaol in Greater Noida. Fifteen people were also critically injured in the clashes, including the district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, Deepak Agrawal, who was shot in the leg.

Farmers also took three Uttar Pradesh Roadways employees hostages. They were able to escape.

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