Labour unrest leads to violence at Toyota plant
BANGALORE: The labour issue at Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s twin plants at Bidadi near Bangalore is turning into a law and order problem with two members of the protesting workers union allegedly beaten up by the police on Saturday night. The incident occured when the police on Saturday night tried to forcibly remove them from the protest site, a makeshift tent in front of the plant’s gate.
Some workers have been on a hunger strike for the last five days demanding immediate resolution of their differences with the management. In fact, nine workers were hospitalised on Sunday following the strike.
R Sathish, secretary, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employee Union, said two of the workers were beaten up and one was hospitalised following police action on Saturday night around 11.30 pm.
However, Anupam Agarwal IPS, superintendent of police, Ramanagaram district, where Toyota’s Bidadi plant is located, dismissed those allegations.
“They were not assaulted. There was a medical report about the worsening health condition of the protesting workers. We tried to remove them but they refused.”
Agarwal said the police intervened as the issue had turned highly sensitive. When contacted, a company spokesperson said “We have no details of why or whether this has happened. Law and order is a state subject and we would refrain from com- menting.” Toyota had declared a lockout of its plants on March 17 following a wage dispute but lifted it after a week.