UP cops nab Bhatta-Parsaul farmers’ leader

“He stepped out of the house and boarded a blue Esteem which already had a woman and the caretaker of the house in it and together they made their way out of the area. Soon,he realised that he was being followed and got out at a traffic signal and ran,but could not evade the police,” the SSP said.

He said the house where Tevatia was hiding is owned by one Romesh Sharma. He added that it is being ascertained if Sharma had any political links.

Tevatia is being interrogated regarding the arms allegedly used by him and his men for firing at the police team and the District Magistrate during the Bhatta-Parsaul agitation,the police said.

Further details about where he had taken shelter are also being taken from him,the SSP said.

Tevatia spearheaded the farmers’ stir in Bhatta-Parsaul villages of Noida against the state government’s land acquisition policies and had been absconding since May 7. Four persons,including two policemen,were killed during the agitation.

The state government had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for his arrest.

“We are verifying who were his accomplices. The person,who was in touch with Tevatia,has been identified as Kesari Singh Gujjar. According to informers,Tevatia was about to hold a live press conference in Delhi with the help of Gujjar,” SSP Jyoti Narayan said.