Villagers and police clash at Tata car plant in Singur
28 Jun 2008, 1106 Hrs

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Singur, June 28 (ANI): Police have fired tear gas and beat villagers who had tried to force their way into a factory owned by the Tata Motors Limited.

Villagers, who say the car plant has forced them from their farmland, threw stones at police on Friday and tried to tear down a boundary wall of the factory.

"I don't have a single piece of land left with me, how will I support my children? Neither West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee nor Managing Director of Tata Motors Ravi Kant gave any land. Kant keeps saying that he has given money to the villagers, but he has given nothing," said Prabir Patra, a villager.

Padma Patra, another villager added, "Group of villagers gathered here to break the wall. It's been two years now. How much more will the villagers tolerate?"

At least 15 villagers and some policemen were injured in the clashes, police and community leaders said.

Tata Motors started work to build its factory in Singur in 2006 to make what the company says will be the world's cheapest car for 100,000 rupees.

But the project has been mired in trouble with some farmers saying the government took their land against their will.

Last year when the entire site was flooded during the monsoon, the State Government promised to set up a new drainage system. However, the work has yet to be completed. (ANI)