NEW DELHI, India, Feb. 16, Reuter: Police fired on angry farmers near the north Indian city of Meerut on Tuesday after they blocked highway traffic and burned police jeeps to demand cheaper electricity and higher prices for sugarcane.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted an official spokesman as saying farmers set two police jeeps ablaze and stoned buses in a bid to stop the traffic.
PTI did not say if there were any casualties.
An official statement from the railways said train traffic around Meerut was affected because angry farmers had pulled out tracks.
At least 10 passenger trains were cancelled.
Tens of thousands of people, led by Mahendra Singh Tikait, a littleknown farmer dubbed by the office of the Commissioner.
The siege began three weeks ago and Tikait’s popularity has increased during the period.
Farmers have abandoned their agricultural lands to join the agitation.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 19, 1988
