Kolkata: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was on Sunday prevented from going towards Singur, where farmers are protesting against a Tata Motors project, with the police intercepting her car at Dankuni and forcing her to return to her residence in the city.
Banerjee, who was heading to Singur by car from Islampur in north Bengal, where she had gone to campaign for the coming by-election, took a detour late in the night but was forced by the police at around 0430 hrs IST to return to her residence.
This was the second time in the last four days that she was prevented from approaching Singur by the authorities who have cited security reasons and promulgated prohibitory orders at Singur, where fencing work at the site of the proposed Tata Motors small car project is on.
The Trinamool Congress-led agitation to protest acquisition of farmland for the project turned violent on Saturday resulting in injury to at least 40 people.
Police fired rubber bullets and teargas and resorted to lathi-charges to disperse stone-pelting protestors who tried to enter the project site.
Later speaking to reporters at her residence, Banerjee warned the administration of "serious consequences" while reiterating her resolve to continue the movement against "police atrocities" and "forcible acquisition of farmland".
"I am determined to go to Singur. Police atrocities there were nothing short of goondaism to gag the voice of the Opposition," she said adding the future course of action would be decided at the meeting of her party later in the day.
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had justified the police action saying they were attacked with bombs and knives.
Social activist Medha Patkar, who has joined the stir and was detained at Singur and also returned to Kolkata on Saturday, stayed put in the police vehicle outside the state guest house here in the night refusing to accept government hospitality.
"I refuse to be a state guest when the people suffer so much in the hands of the same government," she said.
Asked by newsmen whether she would again attempt to go to the place, she said, "I can't say what I will do."
There is no justification for the imposition of prohibitory orders at Singur, she said and demanded that those arrested should be released.
The arrested, Patkar said, had been kept in a tiny cell at the Chandannagore police station.
Asked whether she would have a talk with Banerjee, Patkar said some Trinamool Congress leaders had already contacted here. Banerjee had earlier condemned the police for preventing Patkar.
Patkar said Tatas should reconsider withdrawing from Singur and the Left Front government should also not insist on setting up the project there.
''The state government should not create a war-like situation the way Bush did in Iraq. We are non-violent but if atrocities on farmers continue this way we will go on with our fight against it,'' she said.
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