Mysore Paper Mills files plaint against 12 employees

SHIVAMOGGA: Even as the indefinite protest by workers of Mysore Paper Mills (MPM) against a notice issued by the management regarding earned leave continued, the management has lodged complaint with the police against 12 employees accusing them of trying to breach the peace on the factory premises.

From November 21, workers under the aegis of MPM Employees Association have been demonstrating at the factory premises condemning the delay in payment of salary.

In the complaint, the management has alleged that a section of the employees had abused some senior officers of the firm.

The management has also alleged that the workers had tried to disrupt the factory’s functioning by staging a protest in a restricted area.

Based on the complaint, the police have booked cases under section 141(unlawful assembly) of Indian Penal Code against Shivamurthy, Danam, Babu, Manjappa, Rajappa, Dinesh, Lokesh, Jagadeesh, Madhavaprasad, Thimmappa, Stanley Sudarshan, Bhushan Rao.

The indefinite dharna staged by MPM workers against the management's decision to lay off 1,200 workers entered its fifth day on Friday.

Meanwhile, a delegation comprising members of the association, headed by its President C.S. Shivamurthy met the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Industries Minister R V Deshpande in Bengaluru.

The workers were said to have urged the chief minister to direct the management to recall the 1,200 workers, who have been asked to go on earned leave. Responding to it, Mr Siddaramaiah was said to have directed the officials concerned to submit a report on the financial benefit for the factory from this and the funds needed for the next two months to pay salary to the workers. He told the delegation that the government would take a decision based on this.