Tension grips Singur: Police fire teargas to disperse mob

Fresh tension gripped Singur on Thursday as police fired teargas shells to disperse a mob of villagers who were trying to demolish a wall of Tata Motors proposed car factory.

Kolkata, July 19 : Fresh tension gripped Singur on Thursday as police fired teargas shells to disperse a mob of villagers who were trying to demolish a wall of Tata Motor's proposed car factory.

Around 25 rounds of tear gas shells were fired to disperse a mob of about 100 villagers trying to break the wall, claimed Hooghly Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra, adding that there was no damage to the wall.

Mishra further said that no one was injured in the incident.

However, villagers owing allegiance to Trinamool Congress-led 'Krishijami Raksha Committee' claimed that a portion of the wall was damaged.The Committee's convenor Becharam Manna alleged that the police had baton-charged the villagers and lobbed teargas shells.

Police is investigating the incident and a police picket has been stationed at the site.

The committee has been agitating against forcible acquisition of farmland at Singur for the proposed car factory.

Recently West Bengal Industries Minister Nirupam Sen had even announced a rehabilitation package for the people affected by the project, but rejected the demand of returning the lands.

Trinamool Congress has been spearheading a campaign for better compensation for the farmers whose lands were acquired by the State Government for the project.

Tata Motors started to build its factory in Singur in January 2007 to make what the company claims will be the world's cheapest car for 100,000 rupees.

There have been regular protests in West Bengal this year over the acquisition of agriculture land for industry.

ANI