Tata Motors workers assaulted, dharna enters fourth day

Singur, Aug 27 (UNI) A group of agitators demanding return of the 400 acre land, allegedly assaulted some of the workers of the Tata Motors small car project here this morning, even as the indefinite satyagraha, launched by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, entered its fourth day today.

Singur police station Officer In-charge Priyabrata Bakshi said the Tata project workers had lodged a complaint in this regard, adding that additional security and police escort would be provided to the workers.

Meanwhile, the workers and raw materials for world's smallest and cheapest four-wheeler Nano, were being brought inside the factory only through one gate, which had considerably slowed down the progress of the work.

The Trinamool chief yesterday announced that she would organise a two-hour road blockade agitation across the state from 1500 to 1700 hours on August 29 to demand return of the 400 acres land ''forcibly acquired from the unwilling farmers''.

In Kolkata yesterday, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee rejected the demand of the Opposition for return of 400 acres land, saying that the Nano project shall not be missed.

''I cannot afford to return the 400 acres land. If that is done, then the Tata Motors' project has to be dropped. I cannot allow that to happen,'' he said during an interactive meeting with members of Assocham.

In the meantime, National Highway 2, blocked by the agitating Trinamool supporters, had virtually cut off Kolkata and Howrah and both the North and South 24-Parganas from Burdwan, Birbhum and Bankura for more than 72 hours now, since the launch of the movement on August 24.

Thousands of vehicles remained stranded on Delhi Road, which was the only alternative to the arterial road.

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