Fresh violence in Singur over farmland acquisition

The controversy surrounding a small car plant of Tata Motors at Singur does not seem to die down, with about 200 farmers from Baraberi and Bajemelia villages attempted to break into the acquired land for the manufacturing plant on Friday, triggering a fresh violence.

Singur (WB), Oct 19 : The controversy surrounding a small car plant of Tata Motors at Singur does not seem to die down, with about 200 farmers from Baraberi and Bajemelia villages attempted to break into the acquired land for the manufacturing plant on Friday, triggering a fresh violence.

After their repeated requests to the farmers to disperse went in vain, police resorted to firing teargas shells and also lathicharged the crowd fearing the situation might get out of control.

Accusing the government of illegally acquiring the land through excessive force, the farmers said they wanted to offer prayers at their lands on the occasion of mahaashtami at the ongoing Navaratra festival.

The farmers said they were working peacefully on the land surrounding the Tata factory and police instigated them by charging at them with batons.

"Today was ashtami so we came here to offer prayers. But the police harassed us. In the police offensive, my daughter was hit on the head while I was hurt on legs", said Prashant Kumar Singha, a local farmer.

Tata Motors started work on its factory in Singur earlier this year on what is touted as the world's cheapest car for 100,000 rupees.

But the project, which has become a test case for the ruling Communists party in West Bengal, has been mired in controversy with some farmers declaring that the government took their land against their will.

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

ANI