Indian car giant shuts factory after manager killed by rioting workers

The plant stopped production because of fire damage caused by rioting workers. “The plant is burnt in sections. You cannot make any cars,” said company spokesman Puneep Dhawan.

A dead body found charred beyond recognition in a conference room was identified later as human resources manager Avnish Kumar Dev.

Mr Dhawan said no decision had been taken on whether to reopen the 550,000 vehicle a year plant in Manesar, in the north Indian state of Haryana.

The company, a subsidiary of Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp, said in a statement that at least 40 managers and executives had been taken to hospital with injuries. Police have arrested 88 Maruti Suzuki workers on charges including murder and damaging property.

According to Maruti, the unrest was sparked when a worker beat up a supervisor. The company said the union prevented management from disciplining the worker, blocked exit gates and “held the executives hostage”.

After talks broke down, workers “attacked members of the senior management, executives and managers”, and ransacked the property, the company said.

The Maruti Suzuki Workers Union said a supervisor had “abused” and made “casteist comments” against a low-caste worker and instead of taking action against him, the firm had suspended the worker and brought in hundreds of armed “bouncers” who set fire to part of the factory.