Date:03/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120304530800.htm

National

Medha Patkar held at Singur

Special Correspondent

She was protesting against car project

KOLKATA: Social activist Medha Patkar was held by the police at Singur on Saturday, as she reached there to protest against the acquisition of farmland for the Tata Motors project, even as Trinamool Congress workers turned violent within the city and in the districts torching trains, damaging vehicles and setting up road and rail blockades.

The police resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets after protesters attacked them, even as the Government began fencing of the land for which they had already received consent from the owners.

While 1000 acres of land are required for the project, the Government has received consent for about 927 acres. The Tatas plan to launch India's first Rs. one lakh car by 2008.

The police detained Ms. Patkar while she was attempting a dharna at Beraberia near Singur where Section 144 orders are in force since Thursday.

The police personnel present there told her that her presence might incite people and create a law and order problem.

This led to arguments after which she sat on a dharna and was joined by Trinamool workers.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that naxalites and SUC(I) workers were also involved in the incidents and the police were forced to retaliate after they were attacked with bombs and stones.

He reiterated that the Tatas' small car project would come up as planned. Senior leader Jyoti Basu criticised the Trinamool for their "uncivilised" behaviour.

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee who was at Islampur in north Bengal campaigning for the bypolls, cut short her programme and was rushing to Singur. She has also asked all her legislators to go to Singur.

Train services hit

Railway sources said that train services were hit on both the Howrah and Sealdah divisions after Trinamool supporters set fire to the guard's cabin at Hindmotor also in Hooghly district. The fire was later extinguished; none were injured. Obstructions, which began in the afternoon, were still continuing.

Within the city, blockades were set up by the party on the Howrah Bridge as well as at several important traffic intersections in south and central Kolkata throwing traffic out of gear just as people were trying to get down to business after the 12-hour bandh call on Friday by Trinamool Congress.