Wistron's plant in Karnataka's Kolar witnessed violence on Saturday, and the company has revealed that it suffered a loss of Rs 440 crore as thousands of iPhones were looted.
According to Times of India, the company said this in its complaint to the police and the labour department.?
The factory workers went on a rampage and pelted stones at the establishment over the non-payment of salaries.?The factory is located at Narasapura in Kolar district.
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Police officials have said that the employees rampaged through the factory and damaged furniture; the workers alleged that they have not been paid for the past four months.?
According to PTI, workers pelted stones, 'smashed glass windows, damaged vehicles, furniture, computers, and laptops in connection with salary-related issues'.
In conversation with India Today TV, Kolar SP Karthik Reddy said, "The employees vandalised the factory around 6:30 am. A lot of property has been destroyed. We are still investigating what led to it."
"They work in two shifts. There are about 7-8,000 workers. We have just been able to disperse the mob with lathi charge. Two vehicles to move things within premises were brunt. We are trying to identify the miscreants," he said.
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The act of violence has been condemned by the Karnataka government.?
Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwathnarayan said, "Have spoken to the SP, Kolar to ensure that all measures are taken to bring the situation under immediate control and the culprits are identified. Strict action will be taken under the law against the errant elements."
He added, "It is imperative that nobody takes the law in their own hands. There are appropriate forums to resolve such issues without indulging in this wonton violence."
Superintendent of police, Karthik Reddy, said that 156 arrests have been made in connection with the violence. They have been booked for unlawful assembly, rioting with deadly weapons, voluntarily causing hurt, trespass, dacoity and other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
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Karnataka labour minister, Shivaram Hebbar, also said that the damages which were caused to the company were unacceptable.