CITU demands probe by independent agency into Maruti unrest

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today demanded an inquiry by an independent agency into the violence at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant in which one executive was killed last week.

Expressing 'shock and concern' at the incident, CITU said it must be "inquired into by an independent agency instead of making a shortcut projecting it as a violence and arson by workers...."

In a statement, CITU general secretary Tapan Sen said "mass-scale indiscriminate arrests and detention of workers, rampaging the worker's colonies" were still continuing.

"CITU demands upon the government to stop such witch hunt and terror on workers and institute an independent inquiry into the incident including the antecedents to bring the truth to light and punish the guilty," Sen said.

The union said in last year's strike at Maruti "there had not been a single incident of violence from the worker's side, neither any report of damage despite many provocations..."

During the violence on July 18, a senior company executive was burnt alive and 100 others were injured. Maruti Suzuki has has declared a lockout at the Manesar plant.