Murder charge for Maruti Suzuki workers

Kumar8217;s body was identified by his family today and the company alleged that the violence was an orchestrated act of mob,which has implications beyond one company or region.

91 employees,who were arrested,were produced before a local magistrate who remanded them to 14 days judicial custody. They have been accused of various charges including rioting with weapons,murder,attempt to murder,unlawful assembly,assault and trespass.

The violence in which several executives,managers and supervisors were attacked and office facilities,security office and fire safety section gutted arose out of an alleged casteist remarks by an official against a worker.

The worker allegedly beat him up following which he was suspended and that triggered the large scale violence.

Haryana government and police pledged to take stringent action against those responsible for violence.

Maruti Suzuki said the violence is a negative trigger for existing companies and regions across the country as also for prospective investors and job seekers.

The firm,which witnessed strikes on three occasions last year,has already announced plans to set up a new plant in Gujarat at an investment of Rs 4,000 crore,a move which was interpreted as coming against the backdrop of violence in the region.

Gurgaon,an industrial hub neighbouring the national capital,was the scene of large scale violence by workers and outside forces at the Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India8217;s unit and subsequent strikes in other units.

Rejecting the company8217;s charge,Maruti Suzuki Workers Union MSWU accused the management of calling in hundreds of bouncers on its payroll to attack the workers.

It said instead of taking action against the supervisor who was involved in a scuffle with a shop floor worker,8221;the management immediately suspended the worker concerned without any investigation8221;.

8220;When the workers along with union representatives went to meet HR to demand action against the supervisor and revoke the unjust suspension of the worker,the HR officials flatly refused to hear our arguments,and it was in no mood to resolve the issue amicably,8221; MSWU President Ram Meher said in a statement.

The union,however,said it was ready for a dialogue with the management and wanted to resolve the issue amicably.

Taking a serious view of the violence,Haryana Chief Secretary P K Chaudhery said a special investigating team has been formed under Assistant Commissioner of Police,Gurgaon,Ravinder Tomar,to investigate the matter.

He gave an assurance that no one would be spared for taking law into their hands and resorting to violence.

Haryana DGP Ranjeev Singh Dalal visited the plant and said the police has taken over the entire plant to maintain law and order.

8220;We are going to take stern action against the guilty,8221; he told reporters,adding nothing can justify this kind of violence.

He said the police have been on the field since last night to nab the culprits. But the ring leaders have run away and were absconding.

Dalal said he would camp in Gurgaon till the matter is resolved.

An anguished India Inc condemned the violence in the Maruti Suzuki premises and said frequent incidents of labour unrest in Gurgaon-Manesar area are compelling industrial units to migrate to other states.

8220;Assocham expresses its anguish and strongly condemns the violence at Maruti Suzuki premises,8221; its Secretary General D S Rawat said.

Echoing similar views,CII8217;s Deputy Chairman Northern Region Jayant Davar said in Jaipur that the violence at the Maruti plant 8220;is extremely unfortunate8221;.

However,he added that in the long run,the incident would not have major impact on industrial environment.

Maruti Suzuki India share price tanked over 9 per cent,investors lost Rs 3,183 crore in a single day in the stock market today.

Violence at Maruti plant tragic; biz confidence intact: Sharma

Chandigarh: Terming violence at the Maruti Suzuki plant as 8220;tragic and unfortunate8221;,Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today said such incidents will not shake confidence of the industry.

8220;It is a tragic and unfortunate incident. It should have never happened. The state government acted promptly last night itself,8221; Sharma told reporters here.

The company8217;s Manesar plant was shut following large scale arson in which Awanish Kumar Dev,General Manager HR,was burnt beyond recognition while 100 others were injured yesterday.

8220;I do not see that one incident would shake industry8217;s confidence,8221; he said,adding the state government is capable of handling the situation and protecting the industry and investments.

Maruti had witnessed trouble on three occasions in the last one year causing a total production loss of about Rs 2,300 crore.

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Maruti violence will not affect industrial environment: CII

Jaipur: Confederation of Indian Industry CII today said the violence at a Maruti plant at Manesar,which claimed the life of a senior company official,would not have any impact on the industrial growth in the long run.

8220;The incident is extremely unfortunate but this is not the case which is only happening in India. This happens all over.

8220;In the long run,this will not have major impact on industrial environment and growth8221;,CII Deputy Chairman Northern Region Jayant Davar told reporters here today.

In reply to a question on skill development,he said the government of India under PPP mode has set up National Skill Development Council which would be a game changer in coming years.

8220;The NSDC is headed by a former CII official and would play a key role in enhancing employability skills of youths of the country by 2020.

8220;India is a country with a large young population and the council will really have an important place for economic growth by improving skills of manpower8221;,he said.

Davar along with the chairman CII Northern Region,Malvinder Mohan Singh,were in the city to interact with industry members and government officials.

Violence has implications beyond one company,region: Maruti statement

Manesar: Maruti Suzuki today attributed yesterday8217;s violence at its plant here to an orchestrated act of mob and said such acts of violence have implications beyond one company or region.

8220;They are negative trigger for existing companies and regions across the country as also for prospective investors and job seekers,8221; the company said in a statement,a day after a senior HR official was killed and about 100 others were injured in factory violence.

Maruti Suzuki,which witnessed strikes on three occasions last year,has already announced plans to set up a new plant in Gujarat at an investment of Rs 4,000 crore,a move which was interpreted as coming against the backdrop of violence in the region.

Gurgaon,an industrial hub neighbouring the national capital,was the scene of large scale violence by workers and outside forces at the Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India8217;s unit and subsequent strikes in other units.

Maruti Suzuki said both its plants in Manesar campus were closed today and it would shortly announce its decision on the next steps with regard to resuming operations in these facilities.

Referring to the problem in the unit,it said by any account it was not an industrial relations problem over wages or working conditions.

8220;Rather,it is an orchestrated act of mob violence at a time when operations had been normal over the past many months,8221; the statement said.

None of the leaders of Maruti Suzuki Workers8217; Union MSWU could be contacted for their reaction.

Regretting the loss of life of Awanish Kumar Dev,General Manager HR,the company described him as an outstanding professional and a team member,compassionate,soft-spoken and deeply-committed to cordial industrial relations.

8220;We are disturbed by the mob violence and arson at our Manesar plant on Wednesday evening. Several executives,managers and supervisors were brutally attacked and injured and nearly 100 of them had to be hospitalised,8221; Maruti said.

The company said it was still assessing the total damage to property and facilities. 8220;What is clear is that the office facilities have been burnt beyond repair,as have the main gate,security office and the fire safety section,8221; it said.

The top management team visited injured colleagues in hospitals in Gurgaon. 8220;Their experience was shocking. A few of the colleagues remained serious while for others recovering from injuries it would take a while to come out of the trauma,8221; the statement added.

The injured included two Japanese nationals,including the plant manager in Manesar.

The company said violence at the plant broke out yesterday while negotiations were on between the management and the union for reinstatement of a worker who was 8220;suspended for beating up a supervisor8221;.

8220;The first act of the mob was to forcibly shut the main gate and prevent managers from leaving the premises after working hours,8221; the statement said.

The mob targetted supervisors,managers and executives in different parts of the factory. They also ransacked offices,broke glass panes and wantonly damaged property.

Finally they set offices on fire,it added.

The company said it would give medical attention the injured while extending whatever support possible to their families.

Industry condemns violence at Maruti8217;s Manesar plant

An anguished India Inc today condemned violence in the Maruti Suzuki premises stating incidents of frequent labour unrest in Gurgaon-Manesar area are compelling industrial units to migrate to other states.

8220;Assocham expresses its anguish and strongly condemns the violence at Maruti Suzuki premises,8221; its Secretary General D S Rawat said.

He said the country cannot afford any disruption in the economic activity at a time when industrial growth is declining.

8220;In northern India,it is only Gurgaon which is witnessing labour trouble frequently,8221; he said.

Suspecting involvement of certain 8220;outside elements8221;,Rawat said workers and managements in the area should be vigilant.

8220;The frequent labour trouble has been responsible in compelling the existing units to expand outside the State,8221; he added.

For its expansion plans,Maruti Suzuki itself has chosen Gujarat.

Rawat said though Haryana has been attracting investment in services and real estate sectors,the manufacturing base has not been expanding.

Echoing similar views,CII8217;s Deputy Chairman Northern Region Jayant Davar said in Jaipur that the violence at the Maruti plant 8220;is extremely unfortunate8221;.

However,he added that in the long run,the incident would not have major impact on industrial environment.

Following a scuffle,Maruti Suzuki8217;s General Manager HR Awanish Kumar Dev,was burnt to death and 50 others were injured yesterday.

Labour unrest has been erupting in the area frequently. The Maruti had witnessed troubles on three occasions in the last one year causing a total production loss of about Rs 2,300 crore.

As Maruti Suzuki India share price tanked over 9 per cent,investors lost Rs 3,183 crore in a single day in the stock market today.