At least 20 persons were injured as villagers agitating against land acquisition clashed with police and torched several State-run buses in Asalwas village in Rewari district of Haryana, 90 km from Delhi.
The protesters, who were opposing the acquisition of 3,300 acres of land for setting up an industrial estate by HSIIDC, indulged in arson and blocked Delhi-Jaipur National Highway – 8 after a farmer suffered a bullet injury in police action.
The incident occurred when some youngsters tried to block the highway and allegedly pelted stones at the cops who were deployed in view of an ongoing session of the mahapanchayat.
The mahapanchayat had been called in the wake of opposition to the acquisition of over 3,300 acres of land in 16 villages for setting up of an industrial estate by HSIIDC, the Rewari Deputy Commissioner, Mr C G Rajinikanthan, told PTI.
Police used tear gas shells and fired in the air as the protesters clashed with the cops, police sources said.
A farmer sustained bullet injury in the stomach and was rushed to a hospital. Another person was also reported to have been received bullet injury but it could be confirmed.
The mob set afire three Haryana Roadways buses, one belonging to the Rajasthan Roadways and one police motorcycle while some police vehicles were damaged by them, the sources said.
The villagers are demanding that the process to acquire their land be stalled till the enactment of a central law on land acquisition. PTI