Farmers attack a Haldiram unit in Singur

KOLKATA: An irate mob today attacked a factory of the Haldiram Bhujiawala at Singur that is located a kilometer away from Tata Motor’s factory.

The peasants of Ghanashyampur panchayat area in Singur started an agitation at the gate of the factory protesting against the alleged environmental pollution caused by the unit. Moreover, the unit blocked a pathway of the farmers in the area, said sources.

Late in the morning today, the irate mob started pelting stones after they could spot the car of Prabhuji Agarwal, the owner of the company. A force from Singur police station rushed to the spot to bring situation under control. Praveen Tripathi, SP, Hooghly told ET, "The peasants were agitating on some civic issues. They were continuing the dharna at the gate of the factory. Suddenly they pelted stone at the vehicle of the owner. However, the mob has been disbursed and situation is under control."

Another unit of Haldiram in Singur reportedly received a shut down notice from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) in 2011 following complaints from the local villagers. Before the shut down notice was issued, it was ransacked by the local farmers there in July. Later the PCB has ruled that the unit needed to install anti-pollution devices before it could function again.

The local panchayat too decided to follow up the case with the administration saying the unit was polluting the adjoining farmland.