4 killed in land protests in northern India

Four people, including a police officer, were killed in violent clashes outside the Indian capital between police and farmers protesting over inadequate compensation from the government for land bought to build a highway, an official said on Sunday.

Angry farmers in Bhatta Parsaul village in Uttar Pradesh state fired at police late Saturday and the police to returned fire, police official Brij Lal said.

Three people, including the police officer, died Saturday. One farmer succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. At least two dozen people have been injured in the clashes.

The area is on the outskirts of New Delhi, the Indian capital.

The farmers are demanding higher compensation for land bought by the government to build an ambitious $2 billion, 102-mile (165-kilometer) six-lane highway linking Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal, with Noida, a suburb of New Delhi.

The farmers were paid between $10 to $18 per square foot for their land and are demanding that the government pay them $31 now.

Last year three people had died in similar protests.

On Sunday there were also news reports that similar clashes had also taken place in Agra, injuring two people.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.