On the other side: Tata Motors workers catch the proceedings outside from a high ground. (Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya)

Singur, Aug. 24: The message crackled around 2pm: “Mamata Banerjee is past the Dankuni crossing.”

A shuffling of feet followed by a flurry of activity greeted the news at the police “control tower” outside the Santi Ceramics factory, off the supply gate of the Tata Motors plant.

Some officers scurried to inform their superiors while others waited for orders. They were glued to their hand-held Manpacks — portable radio sets — for the final command before taking position.

Some were posted inside the Tata Motors plant, others around the boundary wall, near podium No. 7 from where Mamata launched her indefinite siege.

The police have set up 12 towers around vital installa- tions on the factory premises. They are also keeping watch from 16 points along the gates that are already shielded by the Rapid Action Force and layers of bamboo fences and iron railings.

“Planning and information are our biggest weapons today,” a senior district police officer said as he sifted through a pile of papers.

The printouts — containing details of police postings — had been taken from a computer at the control tower a few minutes ago.

After going through them, the officer began making calls to check whether the men were at their allotted spots.

With the chief minister making it clear that Singur should not snowball into another Nandigram, the police cannot afford a mistake.

“We had a briefing session yesterday, where it was announced that our main job would be to protect the assets of the Tata project and maintain law and order. It was made clear that there should not be any confrontation with political parties and their supporters,” said a deputy superintendent from an adjoining district.

Around 25 deputy superintendents from across the state are now on duty in Singur.

In keeping with their brief, the police refrained from rushing into action when news reached them this morning that some local youths had tried to strike at the Tata Motors wall in Gopalnagar.

There was no damage to the wall and with the police staying away, the incident did not attract much attention.

“The Trinamul Congress has declared that it will hold a peaceful agitation and we are going by their leaders’ word. We are here only to maintain law and order,” said Kuldiep Singh, inspector-general, western range.

Of the 40,000 people who had assembled since early this morning, only about 2,000 stayed back for the night. Most of them squatted around the Trinamul podiums while some lay down on the Durgapur Expressway. But the police did not make any attempt to clear the road.

A 4km stretch of the road is likely to be closed to traffic tomorrow as well. Vehicles are having to make a detour via GT Road to escape Singur.

“We don’t know how long the agitation will continue. If this road is closed for days, we may have to intervene. But we don’t know how we will do that,” an officer said.

Faces from singur

Dharna Dada
Taher Ali Mir, Trinamul activist

Resident: Bhangar, North 24-Parganas

At Singur: To take part in the siege. Reached early on Sunday. Aware that the sit-in may continue for weeks, Mir has come prepared with spare clothes and toiletries

Views: Mir doesn’t want to talk on the farm-versus-factory debate. He only wants his Didi’s wish to be fulfilled

Parting line: I have got around 40 people with me from Bhangar. We have
to make this dharna a success

24x7 Cop
Priyabrata Baksi, OC, Singur

Resident: Originally from Andal in Burdwan

At Singur: On duty. After spending three years in Singur between 2000 and 2003, Baksi was brought back to the same post in August 2006 to maintain law and order in and around the car plant

Views: Baksi, who moves around with six guards, supports development with a human face

Parting line: I am here with the government’s mandate and am working round the clock

Tata Tourist
Ratan Bahadur Budha, businessman

Resident: Salkia in Howrah

At Singur: To have a look at the much talked-about plant. With his mother Sunsari and niece Satya, Budha came to Singur on Sunday for a first-hand perspective of the farm-versus-factory tussle

Views: Budha votes for industry, but not at the cost of farmers

Parting shot: I don’t know whether this plant will be there or not. That’s why I came here to see it

Sales Savvy
Madan Saha, hawker Resident: Habra, North 24-Parganas

At Singur: To cash in on the huge turnout. The peanut seller took an early morning train to Singur with a bucket full of peanuts. He grabbed a vantage position opposite the podium and did brisk business

Views: Saha is not fully aware of the issue, nor is he interested

Parting shot: I have come here with a stock worth Rs 400 and I will leave the moment my bucket is empty