Fresh clashes in Singur

Peace continues to be elusive in Singur as fresh violence erupted today in the region, the site for Tata Motors' small car project in Hooghly district of West Bengal.

The police alleged activists of the Krishi Jomi Raksha Committee, led by local Trinamool MLA Rabindranath Bhattacharya and committee convener Becharam Manna, tried to break down the wall enclosing the small car factory site.

According to IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia, the Trinamool Congress-backed group opposed to the acquisition of land for the factory, tried to break a police cordon to enter the project site, and hurled bombs and bricks. The police had to fire rubber bullets when teargas and a baton-charge failed to disperse the crowd, he said. Kanojia said several arrests were made but he could not immediately provide the figures.

Chandanagore's Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kalyan Mukherjee and a constable were injured in the brickbatting, Kanojia added. No property was damaged and the police succeeded in keeping the mob away from the site.