Lucknow, May 7
The three-month old agitation of Greater Noida farmers’ for better land compensation turned violent today when a clash between the protesters and the police left two cops and a villager dead.

Greater Noida District Magistrate Deepak Agarwal, Senior Superintendent of Police and Circle Officer Rahul Kumar were also injured in the clash.

The dead cops have been identified as Manveer Singh and Manohar Singh. “A villager’s body was also recovered from a nearby field but it is yet to be identified” DGP Karamvir Singh said here while addressing a press conference.

The DGP said on Friday morning two state roadways officials, Durgesh Bhardwaj and Niranjan Das, along with their driver Jitender had gone to Bhatta Parsaul to conduct a survey for a bus route.

They were held hostage by agitating villagers led by self-styled leader of the fringe element of farmers’ Sarvdaliya Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Manveer Singh Tewatia, who locked them up in a house in the village. “Tewatia had promised their release but later he refused to do so. A police team then went to the dharna site. As cops approached the village, they came under incessant firing in which the DM received bullet injuries above his right knee. The SSP and the Circle Officer were also injured,” said the DGP. However, the police managed to get the hostages released.

Describing the situation as “tense but under control,” the DGP said around 15-20 persons have been arrested. Senior police and administrative officials are camping in the area.

Charging Tewatia of fomenting trouble, the DGP said: “Ninety nine per cent of farmers have no issues with the compensation offered by the state government.” Tewatia is absconding but will be arrested soon, added the DGP.

Chief Minister Mayawati has announced Rs 5 lakh relief for the two policemen.

Meanwhile, refusing to negotiate with division and district-level officials, the farmers’ representatives now want the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter.