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Greater Noida: Joining the farmers' agitation against the Mayawati government, Rahul Gandhi sat on a dharna at the epicentre of recent violence in this district after he entered the village riding pillion on a motorcyle giving the local police a slip before dawn today. The Congress general secretary, who landed at Bhatta Parsaul village in this Delhi suburb at about 4 AM, demanded a judicial inquiry into the firing incidents following violent clashes between police and farmers protesting Uttar Pradesh government's land acquisition and compensation policy. Four persons including two policemen were killed in the violence last Saturday. Rahul, who was also joined by party colleague Digvijay Singh, sat on a day-long dharna at the Choupal at Parsaul village after he heard villagers for several hours narrate the alleged atrocities committed on them by the UP police. SDM Vishal Singh met Rahul and asked him to end the dharna in view of the potential security risk to him in view of the situation in the area. Vishal Singh also expressed inability to provide security as he had come without intimation. But the young Congress leader told the official that unless their demands are met he will not leave the village. The demands also included release of detained farmers.
Digvijay Singh said till a judicial inquiry submitted a report no action should be taken against the farmers in respect of FIRs lodged against them. He also demanded that all arrested farmers be released and that there should not be any
forcible land acquisition.
IG Police Rajni Kant Mishra was in constant touch with top state government officials in Lucknow to seek directions on how to deal the tricky situation arising out of Rahul's dharna. The strong police force deployed at the Bhatta Parsaul village apparently failed to notice Rahul when he reached there in a mobike in the dark. It was only when he began meeting farmers and heard their grievances that the policemen recognised the young Congress leader, who has often slipped out of his security
cordon in the past to meet people. The identity of the driver of the mobike was not known immediately. Senior officers told Rahul that the state adminstration too has requested the villagers to return home as there was no fear for innocent farmers. Police was only targeting the anti- social elements who had fired at police team and caused rioting, they said.
Some of the villagers also showed Rahul injuries inflicted on them allegedly by the police. They all claimed that all young males have either been detained by police or have left the village out of fear. The villagers claimed they were holding peaceful demonstration since January 17.
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Digvijay Singh said till a judicial inquiry submitted a report no action should be taken against the farmers in respect of FIRs lodged against them. He also demanded that all arrested farmers be released and that there should not be any
forcible land acquisition.
IG Police Rajni Kant Mishra was in constant touch with top state government officials in Lucknow to seek directions on how to deal the tricky situation arising out of Rahul's dharna. The strong police force deployed at the Bhatta Parsaul village apparently failed to notice Rahul when he reached there in a mobike in the dark. It was only when he began meeting farmers and heard their grievances that the policemen recognised the young Congress leader, who has often slipped out of his security
cordon in the past to meet people. The identity of the driver of the mobike was not known immediately. Senior officers told Rahul that the state adminstration too has requested the villagers to return home as there was no fear for innocent farmers. Police was only targeting the anti- social elements who had fired at police team and caused rioting, they said.
Some of the villagers also showed Rahul injuries inflicted on them allegedly by the police. They all claimed that all young males have either been detained by police or have left the village out of fear. The villagers claimed they were holding peaceful demonstration since January 17.
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