The Uttar Pradesh Government has withdrawn criminal cases against 37 more farmers of Tappal block of Aligarh, which were lodged during the Mayawati regime in August 2010. This is the second amnesty given by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in the matter as he had already withdrew criminal cases against 24 farmers of Tappal in April this year.

These cases were lodged against farmers, who clashed with the police, in which five persons, including one PAC constable were killed on August 14, 2010.

Quoting official sources, AIR Lucknow correspondent reports that the decision to withdraw cases has been taken in 'public and judicial interest' after an inquiry . According to an official release, the Government came to the conclusion that the clash was not an act of criminal violence because it occurred during an agitation against land acquisition, where farmers were fighting for their rights.

The clash between farmers and police took place when the farmers were holding a demonstration at Jikarpur village of Tappal block demanding high rate of compensation for their land acquired by the state government for the Yamuna Expressway project.

The police allegedly used force to disburse the agitators, leading to clash and police firing, leaving five persons dead which included three children. A similar clash on the same issue also took place later in May 2011 at Bhatta-Parsaul village of Gautambudhnagar (NOIDA), in which four persons, including two policemen died.