Kolkata: Opposition against a Tata car project in West Bengal turned violent today (Dec 4, 2006) when suspected Maoists ransacked a Tata car showroom here even as the police stopped activist Medha Patkar on her way to the project site in Singur.

Suspected Maoists stoned and damaged the showroom on A.J.C. Bose Road in the heart of Kolkata, taking the police by surprise. Armed with rods, sticks and stones, they damaged the shop of Lexus Motors around 10.15 a.m.

 
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh was stopped on his way to Singur, about 40 km from here, leading his supporters to block traffic. Authorities have banned the assembly of four or more people in Singur.

 
Meanwhile, another attempt by Medha Patkar to reach Singur was foiled by the police. A heated exchange followed when she demanded a judicial order that stops her from reaching Singur.

 
Both Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Medha Patkar have vowed to deepen their protests against the project.

Banerjee Sunday threatened an indefinite hunger strike if the government did not stop land acquisition and police high-handedness.

 
The Socialist United Council of India, an opposition party, has called a 24-hour statewide shutdown Tuesday to denounce the police action against farmers.

Medha Patkar has compared the state government's action in Singur with US President George W. Bush's policy on Iraq.