Maruti to shut plants tomorrow; 11 hurt in scuffle

The labour unrest at Maruti Suzuki India's Manesar plant took a violent turn today with 11 people sustaining injuries in a scuffle, while the company announced that its two main plants will be shut tomorrow due to engine supply constraints.

Even as tension increased, Haryana Minister for Labour and Employment Shiv Charan Lal Sharma said he will intervene by tomorrow to resolve the stand-off between the plant workers and management that started on August 29.

According to the police, one Dhiraj Soni, a worker at MSI's Manesar plant, has been detained in relation to alleged attack on a group of supervisors near the factory of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India's Manesar plant.

It is learnt that nine management employees and two workers of the plant were injured in the incident and both sides made counter claims as to who attacked whom.

In a statement, MSI condemned the attack on its supervisors, saying, "This was another desperate action by the striking workers, using violence and fear.

"By such violent acts, the striking workers have polluted the environment in Manesar. Such actions are damaging for the industrial climate in the Manesar belt. This will destroy jobs and prosperity in the region."

The workers, however, refuted by saying it was people supported by the management who started the scuffle.

With the supply of engines affected as workers at its supplier -- Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd -- also going on strike in support of colleagues at MSI's Manesar plant, the carmaker said it is suspending production tomorrow at its plants.