Hassan: Teargas shells were lobbed and seven policemen and an electronic media staffer were injured after employees of a garment factory went on the rampage on the outskirts of Hassan town on Wednesday.
The employees of Himatsingka Garment Factory started protesting in front of the factory gates in the morning, saying the management was treating them inhumanely in violation of the labour laws. Majority of the 4,000-odd employees at the factory are from the north and eastern parts of the country.
As the protest was on, two photographs of employees attacking and injuring management officials were circulated on a social networking site. The workers questioned the authenticity of the photographs.
Violence began with the workers getting into a fight with the security personnel at the gates. When the police tried to take control of the situation, the workers went on the rampage and smashed windowpanes of the factory by hurling stones from outside.
Police vehicles were attacked and electronic media personnel too were not spared. Seven policemen were injured and were treated at a hospital in Hassan.
The police have taken several agitating employees into custody by the police. Police personnel have been posted at the factory.
