Workers of a Taiwanese technology giant that makes iPhones and other IT products went on a rampage at its Bangalore plant on Saturday over issues related to payment, police said.
Large number of workers of the Wistron Corporation hurled stones, broke glass windows, damaged vehicles, furniture, computers and laptops, a police officer said.
The Karnataka government strongly condemned the violence at the manufacturing facility in Narasapura Industrial Area in Kolar district, about 50 kilometers from the state capital.
The violence, which erupted at around 6 am during the morning shift, resulted in the arrest of 132 people.
“The information we received is that the employees had problems related to their salary payment,” Inspector General of Police Seemant Kumar Singh told reporters after visiting the Wistron facility, adding investigations were on.
Video footage showed a violent group overturning vehicles, setting them on fire, breaking glass windows in the office leaving a trail of destruction.
Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan said strict action will be taken against the miscreants.
“Whether employees are anyone else, whoever is responsible for attack on the factory and damaging its property, they will face stringent action,” he said, calling the incident unfortunate.
A detailed investigation would be carried out to identify the reasons for the unrest among the workers, the situation that enraged those in the morning shift and cover aspects related to payment of salary.
Narayan said that the employees should have resorted to the Labour Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner of the district if they were facing such issues, instead of taking law in their hands.
He added that the officials of his department are in contact with Wistron officials.
The company has however not commented on the incident as of now.
Wistron manufactures iPhone 7 for Apple, IT products for Lenovo and Microsoft among others.