Ryots warn of more protests

At a “Mahapanchayat” (meeting) held on Monday, chaired by RLD president Ajeet Singh, the agitating farmers issued an ultimatum to the state government to release their leader Rambabu Katelia by Tuesday evening. They also declared that the agitation would continue till the demands of the farmers for adequate compensation were met.

The Samajwadi Party and RLD workers staged statewide demonstrations in protest against the police firing on farmers in which three people were killed. A police sub-inspector was also killed in the clashes between the farmers and police on Saturday.

While the ruling BSP alleged that the Opposition parties had provoked the farmers, the Congress, SP, RLD and BJP leaders reached the site of violence in Aligarh to express their solidarity with the farmers.

The government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the clashes and announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kins of the deceased. It also formed a committee to look into the demands of the farmers.