1.Mahyco office vandalised for suspected GM crop trials
2.Modified seeds' city office ransacked
EXTRACT: In an unprecedented event, a group, claiming to be activists of a farmers' organisation, ransacked the office of Maharashtra Seeds Company (Mahyco) in Ballygunge this afternoon. (item 2)
---
1.Mahyco office vandalised for suspected GM crop trials
Business Standard (India), May 22 2007 http://www.business-standard.com/economy/storypage.php?leftnm=3&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=285249&tab=r
Kolkata - The office of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco), a subsidiary of Monsanto was vandalised and ransacked by unidentified miscreants.
The attack was due to a mistaken belief that Mahyco was conducting trials for insect-tolerant crops in West Bengal, Mahendra Sharma, general manager of Mahyco, said.
Mahyco is currently engaged in trials of regular hybrids of paddy and bhindi (lady’s finger) that have nothing to do with genetically-improved crops, Sharma said, adding, these trials are part of regular research to develop new hybrids and test their efficacy.
Mahyco had conducted trials of insect-tolerant paddy and bhindi in West Bengal in 2006 in strict conformity with the regulations laid down by the Centre and with the permission and knowledge of the West Bengal Agriculture Department, Sharma said.
"Those are long over and no such trials are on at the moment," he added.
"Scientists around the world, including China, many parts of Europe and Latin America, are working on new technologies in agriculture to help farmers meet the challenge of sustainable agriculture using less land, water and pesticides. Some of these new technologies pertain to hybrids, which have nothing to do with biotechnology or genetically modified crops," Sharma said.
He said recent reports in a section of the media over the past few days alleging surreptitious trials of insect-tolerant crops in the state led to the incident.
---
2.Modified seeds' city office ransacked
Statesman News Service, May 22 2007
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=22&theme=&usrsess=1&id=156961
KOLKATA, May 21 : In an unprecedented event, a group, claiming to be activists of a farmers' organisation, ransacked the office of Maharashtra Seeds Company (Mahyco) in Ballygunge this afternoon.
The group claimed that the company was trying to introduce genetically modified crops in the state and conducting trials for the same.
The incident occurred at around 2 pm when about 10-15 people attacked the Mahyco office in Central Plaza, a multistoreyed office complex.
Only the company’s accountant was present in the office.
The vandals damaged electronic equipment and furniture amounting to lakhs of rupees.
Mr Raju Barwale, Mahyco's managing director, said the company is only conducting hybrid crop trials in West Bengal.
"No trials of insect-tolerant, genetically modified crops are being carried out anywhere in West Bengal," he said.
Mr Ajay Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (South), said some people damaged property at the company’s office. "We are investigating the matter but no one has been arrested so far," he said.
About reports of some mediapersons accompanying the vandals, Mr Kumar said the group seemed to have informed them in advance about the attack.
A company spokesman, however, alleged that the attack was incited by the people who had vested interests.