Singur: A large group of farmers turned violent and tried to violate prohibitory orders by marching to Singur, where work has begun on the Tata Motors' small car project. The police had to resort to use of batons and teargas to control the farmers.

Officials said clashes broke out when members of the farmer's committee led by the opposition Trinamool Congress tried to proceed to Singur by breaking barricades put up by police at Maheswarpur and Dankuni on Durgapur Expressway and at Nalikul in Hooghly district.

People protesting the acquisition of farmland for the project turned violent and clashed with police.

Dredging of the Julkia canal at the project site in Singur began yesterday with 500 people being engaged by Tata Motors for this purpose. Another 500 people were employed for the work today, officials said.