In 2006, Devender Singh lived a simple and routine life. On his 8 bighas (2,500 square metres) of family land in the village of Bisrakh, he grew a variety of crop. Every year, he went to the bank to take credit to buy seeds, and once he sold his produce, he repaid the loan.

Soon, however, came the news that all of his land had been acquired by the Uttar Pradesh government under the “urgency clause”, which enables the government to acquire any land for public purpose.