As the garment factory workers protest turned violent in Bengaluru, there are reports of protestors barging into a few offices, vandalising property and forcing employees to join the protest with them.
On the condition of anonymity an employee from Biocon India Ltd said:
It all started at around 12:30 pm when hundreds of protestors started gathering at the front gate. We could see fire and they forced themselves into the campus. A few employees who were stepping out were stopped and asked to join the protest to help factory workers.
According to the employees an administrative official Amalraj from Boicon, got severely hurt while stopping the protesters to enter the premises. He was taken to the nearby hospital.
Speaking to The Quint, one of the eye witnesses said that while a few office employees managed to escape from the back gate the rest were later sent home.
A statement issued by Biocon says:
Protesting garment factory workers entered Biocon campuses on Hosur Road and Jigani Industrial Area today. They resorted to violence and vandalised Biocon property before the police could arrive on the scene. In the process, a couple of employees were hurt. We have taken necessary steps to safeguard employees.
Incidents of stone-pelting on buses and other vehicles were reported from different parts of the city such as Bannerghatta and Jalahalli cross, as also near the Electronics City, the hub of IT firms.
Traffic jams were reported at various entry and exit points in the city like Hosur Road, which leads to Electronics City and Tumkur Road, which has a large concentration of garment units.
Speaking to the news agency PTI, City Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said the situation was under control, but there “are some issues” on the city’s outskirts.
Meanwhile, after Facing protests in several parts of the country, the government has put the controversial new rules regarding provident funds, on hold. Provident funds serve as retirement savings for employees everywhere.
The garment workers union in Karnataka has planned a meeting to decide the future course of action.
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