Rs.50,000 reward announced for farmer leader

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The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday announced a reward of Rs.50,000 for the arrest of farmer leader Manvir Singh Teotia who has been blamed for violence over land takeover that left three dead.

Protests by farmers resisting the acquisition of land turned violent on Saturday when police tried to rescue three Uttar Pradesh Roadways employees held hostage by farmers in Bhatta Parsaul village.

This led to exchange of gunfire between the Uttar Pradesh Police and farmers. Two policemen and a farmer were killed. The hostages escaped.

Fifteen people were injured, including Deepak Agrawal, the district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar.

Uttar Pradesh Police director general Karamveer Singh said Teotia hails from Bulandshahr district and doesn't even own farmland in Bhatta-Parsaul village.

"He was not victimised in any manner but he registered his presence on every occasion of agitation in Tappal, Mathura and now in Bhatta-Parsaul," he said.

"He played a dubious role at Mathura, Aligarh and at Bhatta Parsol. He seems to be politically motivated," he added.

Much of the arson and attacks on villagers and passersby took place in the presence of the media on Saturday. Later, the reporters were chased away.