Workers ransack Priyagold unit, injure policemen

A mob of hundreds of workers resorted to violence inside the Priyagold biscuit manufacturing unit at Surajpur in Greater Noida, and later pelted stones at police personnel, who arrived to intervene.

The company officials said that the mob was instigated by some outsiders, who were present at the spot.

The incident, which rendered nearly half a dozen police personnel injured, took place at around 8 pm on Thursday, when the shift changes. The number of workers swelled by the time police reached the factory in Udyog Vihar.

“The workers were annoyed with some issue. They were alleging that some officer favoured another group. It was a non-issue, but they ransacked the office premises on the ground and first floors and broke all window glasses. They even misbehaved with top officials of the unit and manhandled other officers,” said DK Tyagi, general manager.

“I had left the unit by 6.30pm. When I returned I saw some outsiders pelting stones at our unit’s premises. They even pelted stones at the police personnel. We have about 700-800 workers, but we cannot identify who were actually involved in the violence. We are filing our complaint with the police,” Tyagi said.

Police reinforcements were summoned from nearby areas to control the rampaging mob.

Meanwhile, police officials said that they are scanning video recordings and CCTV footages of the unit to identify the protesters.

“We are trying to ascertain the number of injured policemen. Our initial assessment is that five to six personnel could be injured due to stone-pelting by the workers. We are in the process of lodging an FIR against them and will also register the complaint forwarded by the unit officials,” said Suniti, superintendent of police (rural).