Eight industrial workers were injured on Friday as police opened fire when large-scale violence by employees of a ceramics factory rocked Yanam, a region of Puducherry but located in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district. Police said hundreds of workers of Regency Ceramics went on rampage, setting afire parts of the factory and dozens of vehicles nearby. So far three people have died, say the reports.

The trouble began on Friday morning when a leader of striking employees died under suspicious circumstances. The employees alleged that Murali Mohan was one of the 100 people arrested and he died in police custody. Angry workers laid siege to the police station, pelted stones at and clashed with the police. As lathicharge failed to disperse the angry workers, the police opened fire, injuring eight workers. Later the injured were taken to government hospital by the police, where they are being treated. It is reported that condition of at least half of them is very critical. In the meanwhile, irate employees laid attacked Regency Ceramics Vice-president Mr. Chandrasekhar at his residence and thrashed him up severely, resulting into his death.

Over 700 workers of the factory were on strike for the last 15 days demanding hike in salaries. The management has reportedly decided to retrench the workers and had even obtained orders from the Madras High Court that the striking workers should not come within 200 metres of the industrial unit. As the striking workers gathered near the factory gate on Friday morning, the police swung into action and arrested them.

Video Source: tv9