The protesters, who were opposing acquisition of 3,300 acres of land for setting up of an industrial estate by HSIIDC, indulged in arson and blocked Delhi-Jaipur National Highway-8 after a farmer suffered a bullet injury in police action.
The incident occurred when some youths tried to block the highway and allegedly pelted stones at the cops who were deployed in view of a mahapanchayat under the aegis of the villagers' Sangarsh Samiti that had been going on since morning.
The mahapanchayat was almost near its completion in the afternoon when the incident occurred, Rewari Deputy Commissioner C G Rajinikanthan told PTI.
The Mahapanchayat had been called in the wake of opposition to the acquisition of over 3,300 acres of land in 16 villages for setting up of an industrial estate by HSIIDC, the DC said.
Police used tear gas shells and fired in the air as the protesters clashed with the cops, police sources said.
A farmer sustained bullet injury in the stomach and was rushed to a hospital. Another person was also reported to have been received bullet injury but it could be confirmed.
The mob set afire three Haryana Roadways buses, one belonging to the Rajsthan Roadways and one police motorcycle while some police vehicles were damaged by them, the sources said.
The DC said that the passengers of the buses, which had been burnt, had alighted and were safe, adding that police personnel were also among those injured.
The Delhi-Jaipur highway was blocked by protesters who were squating on the road and senior officials of the government were making efforts to restore traffic, which had been diverted to other routes.
There were also claims that a few cops had been held captive by the villagers. However, the DC said he was yet to receive any such report and claimed that "outsiders" and vested interests were fanning trouble in the area.
State BJP leaders including Ram Bilas Sharma were also present at the Mahapanchayat to express their solidarity with the villagers.
A chunk of the land being acquired falls along the national highway and belongs to the Gujjar community, who are resisting government's move.
The villagers are demanding that the process to acquire their land be stalled till the enactment of a central law on land acquisition.
