Manesar (Gurgaon), July 18
Irate workers, protesting against the suspension of an employee, went on rampage and set on fire a portion of the Maruti Suzuki India Limited plant at Manesar, leaving one dead and many injured.

A scuffle reportedly ensued between workers and company officials after a supervisor abused and suspended a worker. The worker union gave a call for a strike and its members allegedly beat up several senior officials of the company.

Within a few minutes, a fire was noticed in the HR section of the company. Soon it spread to the paint section and eventually to other units. At least 20 fire-tenders, including those called from DLF, Honda and MSIL itself, were deployed to douse the fire. Company officials accused workers of setting the factory on fire. The police had to lathicharge workers to disperse them.

An unidentified person was found charred to death on the factory premises. Till the filing of this report, seven injured management officials had been admitted to the Gurgaon Civil Hospital, while over 10 persons had been admitted to the ESIC Hospital, Manesar.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Haryana Chief Secretary PK Chaudhary directed state DGP RS Dalal to rush to the site and take stock of the situation. He said nobody would be allowed to take the law into his own hands.

As per a statement issued on behalf of the MSIL management, workers at the company’s Manesar plant turned violent, attacked and injured at least 40 executives and managers. “The workers also set on fire property and damaged facilities,” the statement said, adding that the episode began in the morning with a worker beating up a supervisor on the shop floor.

The management alleged that as part of their protest, the workers prevented the executives and managers from leaving the factory after working hours. They blocked the exit gates and held executives hostage.

To resolve the issue, members of the senior management met the union members. However, during the talks, the workers allegedly attacked senior executives and managers.

“The workers also damaged office furniture, broke glass-panes and ransacked the office property,” the statement said. The work at the Manesar plant had to be stopped following the sequence of events, the statement added.

Workers alleged that instead of considering their genuine demands, the company management had started suspending and harassing worker leaders, which led to protest.

Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU) general secretary Sarabjeet Singh said, “A supervisor made rude remarks against a permanent worker. When we objected to it, he also misbehaved with us and suspended the worker.”

“There is tension at the plant. About 1,500 workers of the morning shift have not left the complex so far. If the management does not take back the worker, we may stop work,” Sarabjeet Singh said.