KOLKATA, Feb 4: Police arrested more than a dozen people and used batons and teargas on Sunday to disperse protesters who attacked the building site for a Tata Motors car factory, officials said.

Construction for the project began last month despite weeks of protests by villagers and political opposition leaders against the purchase of farmland for the factory in eastern West Bengal state.

“Police fired teargas shells after protesters set fire to wooden posts of the fencing erected to mark the boundary of the small car project,” state police inspector general Raj Kanojia said.

The official said protesters also set alight the house of a supporter of the state's ruling communist party.

“Over a dozen people have been arrested to quell the violence,” he said. The state's opposition party said six protesters were injured.

Tata Motors, a unit of Indian conglomerate Tata group which bought Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus last week in the biggest overseas acquisition by an Indian firm, said it expected the factory will employ 10,000 workers.

The project is aimed at making the world's cheapest car at less than 100,000 rupees ($2,200).—AFP