Gurgaon, Jul 19: Top Indian carmaker Maruti Suzuki has shut down its Manesar plant, that manufacturers Suzuki Swift cars, after widespread violence on Wednesday resulted in the death of one person, and more than 90 others, including Japanese nationals, were injured.
Maruti Suzuki spokesman Puneet Dhawan said the plant stopped production on Wednesday night because of widespread damage and arson caused by rioting workers.
He says no decision has been taken on when or whether to reopen the 550,000 vehicle a year plant in Manesar.
The company is still trying to identify a dead body found charred beyond recognition in a conference room.
Among the 90 managers and executives injured in the violence, were Japanese nationals.
A mob estimated to be 4,000-strong torched the manufacturing unit, the security control room at the gates of the plant and damaged scores of parked vehicles.
Late on Wednesday night, smoke was billowing out of the company premises and 15 fire tenders were at the site.
Angry workers clashed with police and attacked vehicles before they were dispersed.
Gurgaon's Commissioner of Police K K Sindhu said, a body had been found inside the manufacturing unit and it appeared that the person had died of burn injuries.
He said many executives were among the injured. “The injured have been admitted to different city hospitals. Our teams have fanned out in the entire area, we will soon make arrests,” Sindhu said.
Eyewitnesses said foreign nationals were among those targeted. After going on a rampage inside the plant, the mob took to the streets.
“They were carrying sticks, anything they could lay their hands on. They attacked anyone who came in the way,” an eyewitness said.
Eyewitnesses said, on Wednesday morning, a supervisor on the shop floor of the plant made a casteist remark against a worker Jia Lal, after which an altercation ensued and Jia Lal was suspended on the spot.
This sparked protests from workers. As the shifts changed, other workers joined them.
The Suzuki management met union members to resolve the issue. Inside the conference room, at some point during the talks, workers attacked members of the senior management, executives and managers.
They damaged office furniture, smashed window panes and ransacked the office.
In a bid to stop the management from taking action against the worker, they blocked exit gates and prevented executives and managers from leaving the factory.
The situation then spun out of control and a mob went on the rampage.
Maruti management said: “Workers at the plant today turned violent, attacking and injuring executives and managers in the office premises.
At least 40 managers and executives are injured, and have been rushed to hospital. The attackers also set fire to property and damaged facilities.”
But Sarabjeet Singh, general secretary of the Maruti Suzuki Workers' Union (MSWU), said: “The supervisor made casteist remarks against a permanent worker.
When we opposed it, they misbehaved with us and suspended the worker... If the management does not take back the worker, we may stop our work.”
The Gurgaon police has lodged an FIR against 60 workers including union leaders for their role in the violence.
Haryana chief minsiter Bhupinder Singh Hoods has sent DGP Ranjiv Dalal and the Chief Secretary to Gurgaon to control the labour unrest.
Hooda said stern action will be taken against those found guilty in the plant dispute. Hooda said Dalal has gone to Gurgaon to ensure that law and order is maintained at all cost.
Labour unrest is not new to the Manesar plant which mainly produces the Swift car. There were three such instances in the factory in the last two years.
