Thousands of iPhones were looted after violence broke out at a factory of Taiwan-headquartered Wistron Corporation in Karnataka.
After Saturday’s violence at Wistron’s plant in Karnataka’s Kolar, the company said it suffered a loss of Rs 440 crore as thousands of iPhones were looted.
The company said this in its complaint to the police and the labour department, reported The Times of India.
The workers at the factory which manufactures iPhones went on a rampage and pelted stones at the factory over the non-payment of salaries. The factory is located at Narasapura in Kolar district.
Police have said that the employees at the facility in the Narasapura Industrial Area of Kolar district rampaged through the factory, damaging furniture besides other things over non-payment of salaries.
The employees, who had been protesting over the salary dues, alleged that they have not been paid for the past four months.
According to PTI, workers pelted stones, “smashed glass windows, damaged vehicles, furniture, computers, and laptops in connection with salary-related issues”.
Speaking to India Today TV, Kolar SP Karthik Reddy said, “The employees vandalised the factory around 6:30 am. A lot of property has been destroyed. We are still investigating what led to it.”
“They work in two shifts. There are about 7-8,000 workers. We have just been able to disperse the mob with lathicharge. Two vehicles to move things within premises were brunt. We are trying to identify the miscreants,” he said.
The Karnataka government condemned the incident of violence at Wistron’s factory in Narasapura, Kolar.
Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwathnarayan said, “Have spoken to the SP, Kolar to ensure that all measures are taken to bring the situation under immediate control and the culprits are identified. Strict action will be taken under the law against the errant elements.”
“It is imperative that nobody takes the law in their own hands. There are appropriate forums to resolve such issues without indulging in this wonton violence.”
Karnataka labour minister Shivaram Hebbar said the damages caused to the company were unacceptable and condemned the incident.
