V P Singh, Raj Babbar arrested

Ghaziabad, July 8 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Singh and MP Raj Babbar were arrested here today for allegedly violating prohibitory orders.

Police said they were arrested at the Ghaziabad border as they were proceeding towards Dhaulana area where prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPc have been imposed.

Entire top brass of the Meerut Police range was present when both the leaders were arrested.

Mr Singh and Mr Babbar accompanied by their supporters were proceeding towards Dhaulana to join the farmers, who are agitating against acquisition of land by Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Industries and demanding adequate compensation.

Both the leaders have been put up in a Government guest house.

Tension gripped the areas yesterday when police and agitating farmers clashed. The administration had since clamped the prohibitory orders.

The farmers are demanding that Reliance Power Project pay current market rates for the land acquired from them.

Mr Singh and Mr Babbar announced that they will till the land and not let the company take it over.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had cleared the project three years ago and sanctioned permission for acquisition of 2500 acres of land.

Eds here pick up from DR 27 para two line one Mr Singh....

UNI XC MIR KN1626