Arrested Patkar; slams Bengal Govt

Kolkata, Jan 10 (UNI) Social activist Medha Patkar was tonight formally arrested after being kept in 'preventive custody' when she attempted to visit Singur earlier today.

''She has been taken to the hospital for a medical check-up in accordance with the court order, before being lodged in the police lock-up. She will be produced in court tomorrow,'' Raj Kanojia told UNI.

She has been taken to National Medical College and from there she will be moved to Tiljala Thana.

A police contingent led by Superintendent of Police, North 24 Parganas, whisked away Ms Patkar and three of her associates as they moved out of the house in the Salt Lake area on the city's eastern fringe in a bid to go to Howrah station on way to Singur.

She was formally arrested after signing the memo.

Accusing the West Bengal government of violating democratic rights and breaking the law to suppress her movement, Medha Patkar said she would fight ''to the end'' against acquisition of farm land.

''The Left Front Government is violating democratic rights and civil liberties...it is violating the law by transferring agricultural land...we will take our struggle ahead and take the fight to the logical end even on legal aspects,'' she told UNI