Farmers climb on to tank, demand relief

“The farmers have threatened to commit suicide by jumping from the roof if the authorities do not issue cheques to them,” police sources here said. According to sources,  senior officials had rushed to the spot to pursuade the farmers to get down.

“We shall not come down untill our demands are met”, the agitating farmers said. According to the farmers, the local development authority had acquired their lands a few years back for a residential scheme in the town but had not paid any compensation so far.

“About one month back also we had climbed on to the roof of the tank but then the officials assured us quick payment and we came down....nothing happened during this period”, the farmers alleged.

The incident came close on the heels of the  clash between police personnel and farmers protesting against alleged  forcible acquisition of agricultural land at Bhatta-Parsaul village in Greater Noida in which four persons, including two cops and two farmers, were killed.