250 booked for Gurgaon factory violence

Over 250 people were booked under various sections of the IPC and a case of attempt to murder was slapped after workers at a garment factory here turned violent and resorted to arson and rioting, leaving a few workers injured.

The workers became infuriated after rumours about the death of a fellow worker Pawan Kumar, injured due to an electric shock on Friday, spread, Gurgaon police said.

Fear and panic gripped the Udyog Vihar area in sector 37 of Gurgaon as workers at one of the units of Orient Craft went on the rampage and vandalised four units, setting a dozen cars and motorbikes on fire and smashing window panes.

Soon, another rumour spread that four workers of the factory were trapped in a lift and were burnt alive. Both the rumours were false.

Gurgaon police commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk said, "Today at about 10 a.m. police station Kherki Daula received information about workers unrest in one of the units of Orient Craft in sector 37 of Gurgaon.

He said police reached the spot and tried to pacify the workers.

"Workers turned violent and before the police reinforcement in sufficient numbers could reach the spot, miscreants set six cars and four motorcycles on fire," Virk said.

"Miscreants also broke glasses outside the building and tried to set on fire the various inflammable material stored in the factory premises. As police reinforcements reached, the situation was brought under control," he added.

"I reached the site and conducted a flag march with about 200 police personnel. There has been no reported casualty," the commissioner said in a statement.

"Keeping in view the past history of workers' unrest in the factory the damage was contained in a minimum possible manner. Gurgaon police reacted swiftly to defuse the situation," he added.

"Strong police presence will be maintained for the next few weeks to ensure peace in the area," he added.

Meanwhile, police registered a case of rioting, arson, attempt to murder and under various other sections of the IPC against over 250 workers, including eight mentioned by name.

Cases against over 250 workers have been registered under sections 147, 148, 149, 452, 307, 332, 353, 341, 427, 436 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Kherki Daula police station.

"Eight accused have been named in the FIR. No one has been arrested yet," Ghulam Mohammad, chief of Kherki Daula police station, told IANS.

Several police teams have been conducting raids to nab the accused. "Further investigations are on," the officer said.