Five injured, 25 arrested as people protest land acquisition

Kolkata, Dec 2 (UNI) Five persons were injured and 25 others, including a Trinamool Congress MLA, arrested at Singur in West Bengal's Hooghly district after farmers clashed with police personnel today during demarcation of agricultural land for Tata Motors' small car project.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said the incident took place at Biraberi village when local farmers alongwith CPI(ML) activists were demonstrating against the acquisition of land for Tata's project.

''They tried to resist the fencing work going in the area and police tried to remove them'' Mr Kanojia said.

The demonstrators allegedly showered stones on police, who retaliated by baton charging them and also fired tear gas shells.

Altogether 25 people including Trinamool Congress MLA Rabindranth Bhattacharya were arrested in this connection.

Meanwhile, state Industry Secretary Sabyasachi Sen said fencing work would be completed within two to three days. He said out of 11 km of fencing, nine km has already been completed.

UNI KDG PC PA DS1508