One person was killed and several sustained injuries on Tuesday when the Mathura police opened fire at farmers demanding higher compensation for their land acquired for the Taj Expressway project.

Additional Director General (Law and Order) Brij Lal said the government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the deceased, Rajendra Singh, and a compensation of Rs 50,000 each for the six injured. He added that five companies of PAC have been dispatched to Mathura to bring the situation under control.

Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Satish Ganesh said: “The mob indulged in arson today by setting a PWD generator on fire. They also tried to engage in skirmish with the police at Bajna village in Naujheel area.”

“So far, we have arrested 20 people on charges of rioting, arson, assaulting policemen and not allowing them to discharge their duties,” he added.

According to the SSP, the land in Bajna village was acquired for Taj Expressway project with the consent of the farmers.

“They were paid according to the government circle rate. But, yesterday they started demanding similar rates as given in Agra and Aligarh districts,” he said.