Sachin Pilot

Sachin Pilot

Pilot was taken into preventive custody by the police at Lal Chowk outside the Bhatta-Parsaul villages - the epicentre of the land agitation in Uttar Pradesh.

He was released a short while later.

The minister had earlier visited the Dasna jail in Ghaziabad where he met some jailed farmers.

Pilot accused the state government of large-scale land-grabbing and demanded a "thorough probe" into the alleged atrocities on the villagers.

"We would like a thorough probe to be conducted. They were treated badly for sure, and many people have said this before. But you know that if you go into any village and speak to a woman about rape with a camera to her face, it will be tough to get the truth. We would like this matter to be thoroughly investigated, and the people who have conducted a skewed investigation be subject to strict investigation also", Pilot said just before he was arrested.

Pilot's visit to the area comes just a day after the National Commission of Women (NCW) demanded a CBI probe into the alleged acts of violence on women by the police in the twin villages. (Read: NCW demands CBI probe into alleged police atrocities)

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced financial compensation for farmers and their families who were injured during the recent violence in these villages. (Read: PM announces compensation for Bhatta-Parsaul victims)

Those seriously injured would be handed out Rs 50,000 while Rs 10,000 will be given to those who sustained minor injuries.