Trinamool activists vandalise Tata Centre in Kolkata

Kolkata, Jan 22 (UNI) A day after Tata Motors officials kickstarted work for the small car factory at Singur, women activists of the Trinamool Congress went on a rampage, holding a demonstration in front of the Tata Centre in Central Kolkata, pelting stones and smearing the gate of the building.

''About a dozen women demonstrators suddenly appeared in front of the Tata Centre building, throwing tar at the on duty security men and smearing the gate,'' City Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee told UNI.

Eyewitnesses said the demonstrators also pelted stones at the 18-storied building, housing the TISCO headquarters as well as a number of other companies. However, Mr Mukherjee denied having received any such report.

The policemen present at the spot could not put up much resistance to the demonstrators in the absence of women constables.

However, security around the building had been beefed up by posting more policemen following the incident, the Police Commissioner said.

Trinamool Congress sources claimed that the group of demonstrators included members from the displaced families of Singur. They also claimed that a 'bhoomi puja' was performed in front of the Tata Centre gate mocking the ceremonial rites the Tata Motors officials performed in the small car project site yesterday.

Protesting the Tatas going ahead with the project, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged yesterday that the Left Front Government had broken its promise for a negotiated settlement of the Singur problem.

A section of villagers, under the banner of the Trinamool Congress-led ''Krishi Jami Raksha Committee'', also set afire a few fencing posts at Singur in protest against the project being pushed through.

However, while mobilising construction equipment in the project site, Tata Motors started enrolment of local people for work in the day as a large contingent of police kept guarding the area against any possible trouble.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said the period of prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr P C had been extended for another ten days. The prohibitory orders were clamped in the area following a clash between villagers and police on December 3.

UNI