Farmer commits suicide in Singur

Singur, May 25 (UNI) Tension prevailed in the area close to the Tata Motors' small car project site here today when a farmer allegedly committed suicide.

Prosanto Das (40), stated to be a member of the anti-land acquisition movement, was found hanging in the cowshed of his residential premises at Khaserbheri this morning.

Describing it as a prima facie case of suicide, police said what prompted Das to act like this was being investigated.

The Krishi Jami Raksha Committee (KJRC), a Trinamool Congress-led platform opposing the Tata Motors' venture at Singur, alleged that Das, who had to part with his agricultural land for the proposed car factory, had been suffering from depression.

''He had been out of livelihood for about a year after his agricultural land was acquired. Being a member of the anti-land acquisition movement, he refused to accept any compensation from the government,'' a committee leader said.

He said the incident took place exactly on the day the committee was formed a year ago. Trinamool Congress (AITC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, scheduled to address a rally for the Assembly by-election at Panskura in East Midnapore district, was being informed of the suicide. A few party leaders would visit Singur, he said.

The incident came at a time when a renewed attempt was being made by the KJRC to give a fresh lease of life to the movement even though the required land for the project had been acquired by the government and a major portion of the amount earmarked for compensation disbursed.

While the entire project site had been walled, work for necessary infrastructure was also in progress involving about 2,000 local people.

The committee members, mostly belonging to the AITC and a few Naxalite factions, clashed with police on May 20 and 21 while trying to pull down the boundary wall of the small car site and 'recapture' the acquired land.

UNI