Tata's small car project remains suspended following bandh

Singur, June 30 (UNI) The work for Tata Motors' small car project remained suspended today as the CPI(M) observed a 12-hour bandh at Singur, protesting ''framing'' of a party leader in the Tapasi Malik murder case.

The bandh coincided with the protest day that the Trinamool Congress observed in the area condemning the alleged involvement of the CPI(M) in the murder of Tapasi, whose charred body was found inside the Tata's project area on December 18 last year.

Even as the CPI (M) was fighting a political battle against the Opposition to ensure implementation of the prestigious project within the scheduled timeframe, the turn of events led the party to stall work for a day.

The bandh, which evoked a mixed resposne, was called following the arrest of Suhrid Dutta, Singur zonal committee secretary of the CPI (M) by the CBI.

Shops, markets and schools remained closed and vechiles went off the road in several areas under Singur police station though train services were normal.

The situation in some areas was, however, different with life remaining unaffected.

The CPI(M) supporters took out processions and blocked Durgapur Expressway for hours, stalling movement of vehicular traffic.

Police said no reports of untoward incidents had been received even as the two rival parties observed their programmes in the area the same day.

Tapasi Malik, an 18-year-old girl, was stated to be an active member of the Singur Krishi Jami Raksha Committee, spearheading the anti-land acquisition movement.

Dutta's arrest followed the apprehension of Debu Malik, a CPI(M) supporter and the prime suspect in the case.

Both of them were remanded to CBI custody by a district court yesterday.

However, refusing to accept that a leader of Dutta's stature could be involved in the murder, the CPI(M) alleged that it was a political conspiracy to malign the party.

While CPI(M) Central Committee member Benoy Konar accused CBI of succumbing to outside pressure, veteran leader Jyoti Basu yesterday said the fact that the body of the victim was dragged inside the fenced project area pointed to a conspiracy.

UNI