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 31st 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)
