Policemen injured at Singur violence

Singur, Aug 19 (UNI) Altogether three policemen, including an officer were seriously injured when villagers clashed with them in fresh violence over the small car project here today.

Superintendent of police Rajiv Misra said the police had to burst tear gas cannisters and used lathis to disperse the violent mob that fought a pitched battle with the law keepers thorughout this afternoon.

The trouble started when farmers under the banner of Trinamool Congress-led Krishi Jami Raksha Committee converged near the project site from three different areas and tried to move ahead as policemen intervened, they showered brickbats and other missiles on them prompting police to lob tear gas shells and ushed batons.

DSP Pradip Biswas and two constables were seriously injured in the attack and had been hospitalised, Mr Misra said.

A couple of hours later the villagers re-grouped and again attacked police and alleged that policemen entered several houses and beat up people injuring several of them.

However, a large police force, including Rapid Action Force personnel that arrived at the scene of violence cordoned off the entire project area and made the villagers retreat.

Krishi Jami Raksha Committee leader Becharam Manna claimed that the villagers had pulled down a portion of the boundary wall of the project area which, however, Mr Mishra denied.

The SP said no person had been arrested in connection with the incident but a strong police force was camping the area.

UNI