144 CrPC reimposed in Singur after violence

Singur, Feb 05: Ending a seven day respite, prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC were reimposed here this morning, a day after violence erupted over acquisition of land for Tata Motors' small car project.

"The situation in Singur has warranted reimposition of prohibitory orders. This will be subjected to periodic review,'' official sources said here.

The prohibitory orders were in force in the area at a stretch for 55 days from December 5 to January 28 after villagers catched with police in the first major disturbance over land acquisition that brought together divergent forces, including the Trinamool Congress, SUCI and Naxalites to oppose setting up of an industry on farmland.

Activists of the NPMO, a social organisation of which Medha Patkar is a member, also joined the movement.

In a surprise offensive yesterday, members of the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee, a Trinamool-led platform of 20 organisations, uprooted and set fire to a few fencing poles around the acquired land.

Fighting a pitched battle with police, they hurled bombs and showered stones while the lawkeepers fired rubber bullets and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

Several movement leaders,including NPMO activist Anuradha Talwar, were arrested in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, taking guard against any possible unrest in Singur, police blocked all the entry points to Hoogly district today to prevent the entry of Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee.

Ms Banerjee has announced yesterday that she would visit Singur to hold a rally in protest against yesterday's "police atrocities and torture" on the villagers.

UNI

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