Clashes break out between police and Left activists in Bengal

Clashes broke out after twelve Left youth and students' wings have undertaken a two-day "Nabanna Chalo" (march to the Bengal secretariat) campaign on Thursday. The march is being conducted by the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI).

Howrah (WB): Clashes broke out here on Friday between the police and the Left Front activists, who were marching towards the state secretariat, demanding employment for the youth.

Several people on the two sides suffered injuries in the clash. According to sources, police lobbed tear gas shell and resorted to baton charge after activists of the CPI (M)'s student and youth wings reportedly pelted stones at them.

Members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), took out a rally from Singur, the venue of the abandoned Tata Nano car plant, on Thursday afternoon, demanding job opportunities for the youth of the state.

According to reports, SFI and DYFI called for a new campaign from Singur yesterday demanding low-cost education, employment, and unemployment allowance. Sources said the activists, in their attempt to move forward, broke one of the three barricades set up by the police at Mullick Ghat.

A scuffle ensued with the police shortly after, with the agitators hurling bricks at the security personnel, who retaliated with tear gas shells and baton charge.

On the first day, the procession came from Singur to Dunakuni. Later this morning, the gathering towards the Howrah Rail Museum started at Howrah Station.

"She has failed to bring about economic development in West Bengal. Several business summits were organised over the past few years but not investment has been made. Lakhs of youths are unemployed," the DYFI state secretary said.

Rebutting the allegations, West Bengal education minister and senior TMC leader Partha Chatterjee said the Left Front activists were trying to disturb the "peaceful atmosphere" in the state.

Singur had become the hotbed of West Bengal politics in 2008, after the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, fought a pitched battle with the erstwhile Left Front
government over land acquisition for Tata's Nano factory.

The TMC agitation eventually led to the exit of the proposed small car factory and catapulted then opposition leader, Banerjee, to power.