The alert district administration had yesterday thwarted the attempt of former prime minister V P Singh and Jan Morcha president Raj Babbar to defy prohibitory orders to enter Uttar Pradesh. But today, the duo managed to sneak into Baghera Khurd, a village in Dadri area of Ghaziabad, plough a piece of land, and even address a rally.

On their return journey, Singh reportedly called up the Ghaziabad DM to tell him about their whereabouts. Both were immediately detained and taken to the Vasundhara Guest House, the same place where they had been kept restrained till 6.20 pm yesterday.

Yesterday, they had been detained along with several other leaders while they were on their way to the same village to address a rally against acquisition of farmers’ land for a private power project at low price.

Today, they reportedly started early in morning and reached the village by 8 am. Babu Singharia, president of Dehat Morcha, one of the protesting organisations, said Singh, riding a tractor, ploughed a piece of land at the village.

After addressing a rally of 300-400 people, they left for Ghaziabad. It was then that Singh reportedly made the call to the DM.

After the arrest of Singh, Babbar and some others today, CPI General-Secretary A B Bardhan and Deputy Speaker, Delhi Assembly, Shoaib Iqbal arrived at Vasundhara Guest House to congratulate them. The two leaders were released at 2 in the afternoon.

The Mulayam government has reportedly transferred the DM and SSP of Ghaziabad for failing to stop the leaders from entering the village.

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