Trouble erupted at Jikarpur, near Aligarh, on Saturday night after rumours spread that a farmer leader had been arrested near the village.
Police opened fire to disperse the violent protesters and bring the situation under control, said SSP (Aligarh) Vijay Prakash, who was transferred on Sunday.
B.D. Palson, SSP of Mathura, which too was hit by the violence, was also shifted.
Two persons and a PAC jawan were killed and nine injured in the clashes, Uttar Pradesh Additional ADGP (Law and Order) Brijlal told reporters in Lucknow.
The farmers were demonstrating, demanding higher compensation for land acquired for a township project along the Delhi-Agra Taj Expressway.
Over 2,000 farmers staged a sit-in at Jikarpur on Sunday. They also tried to block traffic at several places on the Aligarh-Tappal road.
The farmers destroyed machinery for construction of an expressway. The extent of the loss was yet to be ascertained.
“Taking a serious note of violence in Aligarh and Mathura, Chief Minister Mayawati has ordered a judicial inquiry,” Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said in the State capital.
A committee, headed by the Aligarh Divisional Commissioner, would be set up to examine the issue of compensation to farmers, he said.
The ADGP said the situation in Aligarh was under control. Police and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed in strength in trouble-torn areas.
The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to each bereaved family.
SP plans agitation
The Samajwadi Party announced on Sunday that it would launch a State-wide agitation to protest against the violence.
“The party will stage demonstrations at all district headquarters to protest against the barbaric firing on defenceless farmers killing two of them and injuring nine others in Aligarh on Saturday,” SP State president Akhilesh Yadav said in a statement.
He said the party condemned the lathi-charge and firing on the farmers who were agitating to press for their demand of higher compensation for land acquired.
“This incident has exposed the anti-farmer and anti-people character of the BSP government,” the SP leader alleged.
The party also demanded an ex-gratia of Rs. 20 lakh each to the families of those killed in the firing and Rs. 5 lakh each to the injured, Mr. Yadav said.
