*Press release
10th September 2008*
* *
*Peoples' movements condemn police attack on peasants' protest in Delhi:*
*Unarmed people met with tear gas, bullets and arrests*
More than 3000 people from Kanzhawala village in North West Delhi and nearby
villages today marched towards Delhi Vidhan Sabha demanding their right to
land, adequate compensation and fair rehabilitation. The protestors gathered
under the banner of *Jan Sangharsh Vahini & Bhartiya Kisan Union-*Delhi, and
was supported by *National Alliance of People's Movements, Delhi Unit*.
In what appeared to be a pre-meditated move, the Delhi Police attacked the
protestors and arrested more than 100 people including older people, women
and leaders like *Bhupendera Singh Rawat of Jan Sangharsh Vahini*. Later,
the police unleashed a reign of terror on the protestors using water
cannons, tear gas and twice resorting to firing. Arrested protestors were
released later and the injured were taken to hospitals.
A primary list of injured (list incomplete) is given below:
*Ramkaran age 49, injury on Chest and left palm (bullet passed by the palm).
*
*Sanjay age 33 received 3 stitches near to left ear.*
*Ravi** age 18 got 5 stitches between neck and left jaw.*
*Anguri Devi age 60, hit on stomach with tear gas shell.*
*Surendra Kharab age 42, bullet went touching the left leg.*
*Kiranpal age 66, bullet went across the left thigh.*
*Rameshwar age 78 got 3 bullet injuries on right leg.*
*Rajendra age 61 got 2 bullet injuries on left leg. *
*2 other injured persons are in Aruna Asif Ali Hospital*
*Background:***
Since 19th March 2008 farmers of Kanzhawala North West Delhi and six other
villagers from the nearby villages started an indefinite strike/ dharna in
front of District office north- west Delhi demanding their rights to land.
According to the villagers there agricultural land has been captured by the
Delhi Government for the project of Industrial Cluster and these are those
industries which were once banned in Delhi for polluting the city.
More than 2000 agricultural labourers are living in Kanzhawala and surviving
only on farming, they are yet to receive the compensations or any
rehabilitation for the lands that have been taken over by the Delhi
Government. The fact on ground is:
1. The Market rate for the land is minimum 1.5 crore per hector, and
the award for this land as the Delhi government has announced the
compensation is 75 lakhs per hector but the Delhi Government is giving only
25 lakhs per hector.
2. National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy is in effect from 31
st October 2007 and mostly farmers and agriculture labourers will be
benefited from the R&R Policy. However, Delhi Government is keeping the
farmers and labourers away from the benefit of new R&R Policy.
We call upon all citizens and groups to condemn the atrocity on farmers and
peasants of Kanzhawala.
Seeking solidarity and justice to the demands of the poor peasants and
agricultural workers,
Jagmohan Rawat Rajendra Ravi
Vijayan MJ
*Jan Sangharsh Vahini NAPM, Delhi
Delhi Solidarity Group*
(Contacts: 011-20506929/26680883)
