UP News: Noida witnessed a significant escalation in farmer protests on Wednesday night when police detained 34 farmers who were attempting to march from Zero Point to the Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal. The farmers had planned to camp overnight at the protest site before continuing their demonstration the following day. According to a police statement, these farmers were arrested for protesting without prior permission, highlighting ongoing tensions between law enforcement and agricultural activists in the region.The protest was part of a larger movement involving around 5,000 farmers who gathered near the starting point of the Yamuna Expressway, demanding better compensation for land acquisitions. This demonstration followed the release of 123 farmer leaders, including prominent figures such as Pawan Khatana, president of the BKU-Tikait in Western UP, and Sukhvir Khalifa, chief of the Bhartiya Kisan Parishad.नोएडा में आज पंचायत से पहले पुलिस ने 34 किसानों को गिरफ्तार कर लिया है। पुलिस का कहना है कि ये बिना परमिशन धरना दे रहे थे।किसानों की मुआवजे से जुड़ी मांगें हैं, जिसके लिए वो आंदोलन कर रहे हैं।कल CM ने कहा था कि अराजकता बर्दाश्त नहीं होगी। इसके बाद पुलिस ने ये एक्शन लिया। pic.twitter.com/3vSO8u0XVY— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) December 5, 2024These leaders had been detained during an earlier sit-in near the Delhi-Noida border.Khalifa expressed his determination to continue the fight for farmers rights, urging fellow protesters to gather at Zero Point. He stated, The intention of the administration is not good, emphasizing the need for solidarity among farmers as they prepare for their march to the Dalit Prerna Sthal.Police Actions Fueling Farmer ResentmentThe situation escalated further when police attempted to disperse protesters at Zero Point after their release from custody. Reports indicate that police arrested an additional 15-20 farmers, including Khalifa and another leader, Soran Pradhan, during a midnight crackdown. This aggressive approach has drawn sharp criticism from farmer representatives, who claim that police broke promises made during negotiations.Rupesh Verma, district president of the All India Kisan Sabha, condemned these arrests, stating that police actions were a blatant violation of farmers rights to protest peacefully. He recounted how officers forcibly entered the home of farmer leader Udal Arya, taking his wife to the police station during their operations.In response to these developments, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterated a firm stance against unrest, declaring via social media that no one will be allowed to spread disorder in any district of Uttar Pradesh.Demands for Justice and Compensation IntensifyThe farmers primary demands include higher compensation rates and allocation of residential plots in exchange for land taken by authorities in Gautam Budh Nagar. Khalifa and other leaders have vowed to escalate their protests if their demands are not met promptly. They have called for unity among farmers across regions, with plans to resume their march towards Delhi if necessary.As tensions continue to rise between farmers and authorities, the situation remains volatile. The farmers are determined to fight for their rights, asserting that they will not back down in the face of persecution and oppression.
