Wednesday, March 2 2005 09:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata : Tension was running high in Lake Gardens area in the southern fringe of the city over the proposed eviction of about 20,000 people from Railway land with the squatters putting up barricades since early morning (Mar 2, 2005) to stall the move.

The squatters have put up strong barricades with children and women in the forefront. Posters and banners read "We will resist this move till the last minute".

The eviction which was scheduled to begin at 05:00 hrs (IST) had not begun till 08:00 hrs.

Meanwhile, the State Government deployed a huge police force and made all arrangements to carry out he drive.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, whose party was opposing the drive, sat on a dharna there alongwith party leaders throughout the night.

Mamata Banerjee said that the Government could not evict the squatters without any alternative arrangement. "How can they throw them out now especially when the Board exams are on"?

The squatters had hurled two bombs in the area and had tried to disrupt train movement in the area last night, official sources said.