Mamata threatens hunger strike over Tata project

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike if the West Bengal government did not stop fencing of the land acquired for Tata Motor's small car plant in Singur in Hoogly district.

"I am giving 24 hours to the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government to stop the fencing and to halt police atrocities, or I will begin an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow," she told reporters at her residence after a meeting of the Krishijomi Bachao Committee (save farm land committee), a Trinamool-led 20-party alliance.

Earlier in the day, she and social activist Medha Patkar were prevented by police from coming here to campaign against the acquisition of farm land for the Tatas' project.

Banerjee, who was heading to this town from Islampur in north Bengal, was stopped by police and forced to return to Kolkata in the morning.

"I am determined to go to Singur. Police atrocities there are nothing short of goondaism," she told mediapersons at her residence.

Social activist Medha Patkar, who was detained here yesterday and taken to a Kolkata guesthouse, refused to alight from the police van. After spending the night in the van, she reached Chandanagore near here this morning, when she was stopped again near Konnagar.

A huge police contingent was deployed at Beraberia, Bajemeli and Ghaserberi villages, the scene of yesterday's police action against the protesters, as fencing work resumed at 9:30 am.

Prohibitory orders continued to be in force in the area.

Workers of SUCI, a Left opposition party and Youth Congress set up road blockades in Birbhum, Murshidabad and Howrah districts as the Congress observed a "Black Day" to protest against the yesterday's police action.

Around 40 people were injured when police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells and resorted to a cane-charge to disperse the stone-pelting protesters.

Women in the three villages near the site alleged that police entered their homes yesterday and beat up family members, including children. They said they were forced to leave their villages because of "police atrocities."

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Midnapore Range) N Rameshbabu said policemen had entered the houses from where bombs were thrown.

He said SUCI workers and Naxalites, who had come from outside the area, were instigating the villagers.

Rameshbabu said since prohibitory orders were in force in the area, anyone entering the fenced site would have to face the consequences.