Unnao: Farmers set fire to pipe near power station; demand land compensation

Amid protest by farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao demanding better compensation for their lands acquired for the Trans-Ganga City project, a vehicle has been set ablaze on Sunday morning. The Unnao Sp also said that a pipe, kept in front of power substation in Unnao, was allegedly set ablaze by farmers. Police have also added that miscreants are doing such things to create havoc and villagers should maintain peace.

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Clash on Saturday

Speaking to news agency ANI, Unnao SP said that Villagers & some miscreants had attacked UP State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) officials & their vehicles. He informed that UPSIDC has lodged FIR against 8 named & 200 unidentified people. Farmers, demanding better compensation for their land acquired for a residential project, clashed with police on Saturday when government officials visited the site to clear encroachment. Several farmers were injured as police batton-charged the protestors, used tear gas and water cannons. Many policemen, including the additional SP, were also injured as the protestors targeted them with stones, District Magistrate Devendra Kumar Pandey said.

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The farmers are demanding better compensation for their land acquired for the Trans-Ganga City project, an upcoming township near Kanpur. Pandey, however, said the farmers have been adequately compensated. "There is a faction of anti-social elements who are misleading the farmers and others for their selfish motives, despite the fact that their grievances have already been resolved," he said. Those who pelted stones are mostly anti-social elements, Pandey said, adding that two people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Local BJP MLA Pankaj Gupta, who went to the spot on coming to know of the clash, asked officials to resolve the matter through coordination.

The Trans Ganga City

The high-tech Trans Ganga City is a new proposed satellite township in the Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh. Falling under the Kanpur metropolitan area, it comprises the region from the limits of the Unnao municipality to the Ganga river near Kanpur and the Unnao-Shuklaganj highway. There is also a proposal by the state government to open a Skill Development University near this township.  

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