The pullout decision by the Tatas has not only brought a smile on Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee’s face, but has also proved to be a boon for the policemen deployed there.

The police camp set up just outside the factory premises wore a deserted look on Monday. The policemen were seen relaxing and engaging in talks and laughter. Sources said that the number of private security personnel who were deployed to guard the factory has also been reduced.

More than 2,000 policemen were pressed into service to guard the Tata small car factory in Singur for the last two years. The policemen were primarily deployed for guarding the boundary wall of the project site. But even after the construction work began at the site, the police remained there to prevent any untoward incident.

Policemen from various districts, who were deployed in Singur, often complained of poor working conditions. Now, with the Tatas deciding to shift the small car project from Singur, there is a sense of relief among the policemen. “I was posted here for the last two years. We seldom got holidays. Now, with the Tatas going away, we might be shifted back to our original postings,” said a constable of Murshidabad district.

The number of private security personnel engaged by the Tatas has also gone down. A senior police officer said now the primary focus is on maintaining law and order in Singur villages, as there is palpable tension between the CPM and the Trinamool.