Tatas pull out executives, workers to safety from Singur

Irked by constant intimidation of its workforce by agitating Trinamool Congress workers, Tata Motors has evacuated its manpower from Singur.

None of the 600-800 engineers, executives and technocrats came to work since Thursday night after the management decided to pull out the workforce, including about 500 construction workers, sources close to Tata Motors said.

• Singur farmers don't want Tatas to leave

Asked if it was a precursor to pull out the project to manufacture the world's cheapest car 'Nano' from the state, the sources said currently, the thinking is not on that line, as safety of workers has taken the precedence because of prevailing tension.

• Tata may exit Singur, take Nano project elsewhere

A final view would be taken only after restoration of peace, the source said when asked about Tata Group chief Ratan Tata's threat to withdraw the project from West Bengal in case violence persisted.

Contrary to the promise that Trinamool Congress and Khet Majur Samity would stage peaceful 'satyagraha' protest against state government, there have been numerous cases of intimidation during the sit-in protest since August 24, sources said.

"The workers and the executives were afraid and worried and our foremost priority was to ensure their safety… Hence, the management decided to evacuate its manpower from the plant late last evening," a company official said on the condition of anonymity.

When contacted, a Tata Motors spokesperson told PTI from Kolkata: "Since the employees and contract labourers had left the plant late last night, it was a conscious decision of the company that there would be no attendance at the project site at any of the three shifts today."