NOIDA THE NEXT NANDIGRAM

Author: Shashank Shekhar

Six people, including two policemen, were killed and 84 others were injured when agitating farmers from clashed with the police in Greater Noida on Wednesday.The farmers were demanding compensation for their land, which was acquired by the Uttar Pradesh government way back in 2003 and 2005. As the demonstration turned violent with the protestors torching four tractors, five motorcycles and a car and pelting stones, the cops resorted to lathicharge.However, when the situation turned out of control, the police opened fire. Over 200 rounds were fired in which four people were killed. The deceased and the injured were all rushed to the Kailash Hospital in Greater Noida. The deceased have been identified as Manoj alias Kalwa, Sunil, Yogesh and Pradeep Rawal. "I was in front of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority office since morning when the protestors started pelting stones and bricks. We were not prepared for such violence. They tried to manhandle the SSP and we had to lathicharge them. We had to open fire," said a police sub inspector. The villagers had gathered to press for their demand that the compensation awarded for land acquired in 2003 and 2005 to be equal to the rate of compensation awarded in 2008. IG (Meerut Zone), Gian Singh said, "We lathicharged them initially. We also fired water canons and tear gas shells. But then when they could not be controlled the police resorted to firing. A policeman has also been killed. The violence during the protests were pre-planned, we will take action."However, the farmers are claiming that more people have been killed as many of them are "missing".