The police have taken into custody around 150 workers of the Kitex Garments’ factory following a sporadic outburst of violence in Kerala’s Kizhakkambalam. The unfortunate incident took place on 25 December night.
The role of the workers, if any, in the attack, which left five police personnel injured, is being ascertained.
As per reports, when the police were called to the spot, the workers allegedly attacked them leading to at least five police personnel being injured and a police vehicle being set on fire.
Though the details of the incident are unclear, a clash, reportedly, broke out between sections of Kitex workers, who predominantly hail from West Bengal, Jharkhand and the North East, during Christmas celebrations.
Media reports claim that 11 charges, including attempt to murder, have been imposed on the arrested on the basis of the statements from policemen who were attacked.
The investigation is being carried out based on the video footage available on mobile phones and CCTV cameras.
Congress, CPI(M) have renewed demand for thorough inquiry against Kitex and Twenty20, and a special team led by Perumbavoor ASP Anuj Paliwal has been constituted to probe the alleged attack. The 19-member team comprises two inspectors and seven sub inspectors.
Senior police officers, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Neeraj Kumar Gupta and District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) K. Karthik, visited the scene of attack near the workers’ camp and took stock of the situation. Around 500 police personnel are camping at the site.
P.V. Sreenijin, legislator from the CPI(M) representing Kizhakkambalam, said to The Hindu, a leading English daily, that there had been apprehensions of several unlawful activities which prompted him to seek an inquiry against the firm. “But then Sabu Jacob, Kitex MD, raised the bogey of harassment of business establishments and claimed Kerala was being investor-unfriendly.”
