A 53-year-old farmer on Friday attempted self-immolation in front of the office of the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Mawana of this district, officials said.

The district magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter that is to be completed within two days.

The farmer, who sustained 70 per cent burns, was taken to the community health centre, they said.

The officials said that the farmer, identified as Jagbeer, a resident of Alipur Morna village, was then referred to Meerut for treatment.

District Magistrate Deepak Meena said the incident took place in Mawana on Friday afternoon.

Meena said it was linked to Thursday's removal of encroachment by the forest department along with the revenue department.

The farmer claimed that he was wrongly removed from a land and tried to immolate himself while protesting against this action, he added.

"I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. The inquiry will be conducted by Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Amit Kumar and Superintendent of Police (Rural) Kamlesh Bahadur. The officers will submit the findings in a report within 48 hours," Meena said.

Meanwhile, Range Officer of the forest department Ravikant Chaudhary said that the allegations levelled by the farmer were wrong.

Chaudhary said the farmer had been illegally occupying this land for the past few years. The land was cleared of encroachment during a drive undertaken by the forest department.

He said that the land has been freed, adding the forest department has taken it back.

Former chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the BJP government in the state over the incident.

"What could be more unfortunate than...a farmer, who is considered the backbone of the country's economy, being forced to set himself on fire to save his land," he said.

"Ever since the BJP came to power, it has kept an evil eye on farmers' land and produce," he said.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.