After Bhatta-Parsaul,the situation in Tappal area of Aligarh,which had witnessed a clash between the police and farmers last August,is hotting up again. In the last few days,farmers have ploughed 10 acres of the land which had been acquired as part of the proposed township which the Jaypee Group will develop along the Yamuna Expressway. In retaliation,the police have lodged a case against five farmers,residents of Jikarpur village,for criminal trespass and violation of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act,1984. The police claim that since 2009,the land is owned by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority. Later,it was given to Jaypee Infratech on lease for 90 years. The farmers allege it was forcibly taken from them without a hearing by invoking the urgency clause of the Land Acquisition Act. Tappal Station House Officer A K Singh said,Following a notification two years ago,the land became the property of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority. Farmers trying to sow crops on it amounts to damage to public property. We have lodged an FIR against five farmers. Additional police force has been deployed.
