Maruti’s GM(HR) burned to death, 91 workers arrested

PTI

Manesar, 19 Jul 2012: Maruti Suzuki’s General Manager Human Resources was burned to death in the violence in its car plant here allegedly triggered by workers yesterday for which 91 workers were arrested.

 

A tense calm prevailed today as the plant was shut following large scale arson in which Awanish Kumar Dev, general manager (human resource), was burnt beyond recognition while 100 others were injured. Kumar’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 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 India’s unit and subsequent strikes in other units.

 

’Business confidence intact’

Terming violence at the Maruti Suzuki plant as "tragic and unfortunate", commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma on Thursday said such incidents will not shake confidence of the industry.

 

"It is a tragic and unfortunate incident. It should have never happened. The state government acted promptly last night itself," Sharma told reporters in Chandigarh.

 

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

 

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

 

With Maruti Suzuki India’s share price tanking close to 9 per cent today, its investor wealth eroded by Rs 3,183 crore in the stock market.