Lucknow, Dec 12: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati today denied that a farmer had lost his life in police firing in Munderwa area of Basti, where cane farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union workers were holding a dharna. A BKU activist was killed in alleged police firing and 22 others, including 13 policemen, were injured yesterday when farmers, protesting against the delay in commencement of cane crushing and non-payment of arrears fought a pitched battle with police.
A body was recovered 15 kms away from the sugar mill, the scene of trouble yesterday and said an inquiry is being conducted to ascertain the cause of his death, Mayawati told reporters here.
Blaming the opposition Samajwadi Party, for instigating the cane farmers who turned unruly in Basti yesterday, Mayawati said the incident was aimed at defaming her government and creating law and order problems in the state.

A detailed report pertaining to the circumstance and those responsible for the incident had been shot off to the centre in view of the hue and cry over the issue in the Parliament, Mayawati told reporters here.
Mayawati said the opposition would not succeed in it gameplan to discredit the Centre and the UP government.
The chief minister said her government was taking a number of steps to ensure that the cane farmers received remunerative prices for their produce and for this even private sugar mills were being persuaded to purchase the sugarcane at the government fixed price of Rs. 95 per quintal.
Meanwhile the divisional commissioner, district magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Basti have been shifted by the state government in view of yesterday's incident. Bureau Report