Date:05/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/05/stories/2008090560531500.htm

National

Agitation, work suspension drive man to suicide

Raktima Bose

SINGUR: “If the Tata people leave Singur, all of us will have to die of hunger,” said a teary-eyed Kananbala Mondol, 75, of Joymollah village in the vicinity of the Tata Motors small car factory at Singur. She was asked whether she supported the agitation led by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee demanding return of 400 acres, “forcibly” acquired from farmers for the project.

The prolonged agitation and the subsequent suspension of work by the Tatas claimed the first victim on Wednesday, Sushen Santra (60) of Joymollah committed suicide by consuming pesticide. “My father had willingly given away one bigha of land to the government for the project. That was all we had and we had expected to get jobs at the factory site,” said Uttam Santra, the eldest son of Sushen.

Sushen Santra received Rs. 3 lakh as compensation while two of his sons got jobs at the Tata’s car factory on a daily wage of Rs. 109. Uttam claimed that the income from working at the factory was much better than what he got from tilling the land.

“However, my father became very upset since the suspension of work notice was issued and went into depression.”

Sushen also incurred debts while building a new house with the compensation money.

Trinamool threat

“We were being threatened by Trinamool Congress supporters for working at the Tata site. We are so terrorised that we have not ventured near the agitation site since the day work stopped in the factory,” said Madhusudan Santra, another villager, who has also got a job.

“We want to warn the Trinamool leaders that if the Tatas leave Singur, this place will become a second Nandigram as poor people will rise in rebellion against them,” warned Netai Das, who had given up his land willingly for the car project.