Work begins in Singur after strike

Work at the Tata Motors small car project in Singur resumed today after being stalled by a 12-hour strike.

Work at the Tata Motors small car project in Singur resumed today after being stalled by a 12-hour strike. The strike was called by the local CPI(M) to protest against the arrest of the party’s Singur zonal committee secretary Suhrid Dutta.

Dutta was arrested by the CBI in connection with the murder of Tapasi Malik, an activist of Sigur Save Land Committee. “Work went off peacefully today without disruption. We provided the necessary security there,” said Supratim Sarkar, police superintendent, Hooghly.

The charred remains of Tapasi had been discovered from a pit in the Tata project area on December 18. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had called for a CBI probe after the Opposition demanded it.

Debu Malik, a local CPI(M) leader, who was in charge of the night guards at the project site was arrested after he owned up to the crime following a CBI polygraph test in Delhi.

Later, Suhrid Dutta was arrested after prolonged interrogation at the CBI office in Salt Lake. The two are in CBI custody in Delhi, undergoing more polygraph tests.

Today, nearly 1000 workers, the usual strength, joined work. Over 200 vehicles are employed at the site, including land movers, dumpers, trolleys, tractors etc.

Currently, land filling, construction of the inroads, employee quarters and factory shed are being done. Finishing touches are also being given to the boundary wall surrounding the 997-acre area.

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“Yesterday was a bandh and we could not come. It was the party’s command. Today is a different story and we all are here. Work is going on at a hectic pace,” said Ramen Ghosh, one of the group leaders at the site.

Tapasi case: Proof against accused

KOLKATA: The CBI claimed today that their case against Debu Malik and Suhrid Dutta is based on solid evidences collected from the murder spot in Singur and that polygraph test will only serve as corroborative evidence. The statements of the arrested persons are being corroborated through a polygraph test, said a senior CBI official.