India: One killed, Over 40 Injured in Clashes in Factory Maruti

A body, burned alive, was found in the conference room of the Manesar plant, about 50 km from the capital, after the clashes that occurred Wednesday night, told AFP the official, under the of anonymity. "The production was completely suspended," the source said, adding that more than 40 executives and officials injured. "We could not identify the deceased, the charred body preventing any identification," the official said.

In a statement, the manufacturer, majority owned by Japan's Suzuki Motor, had indicated earlier that the workers had set fire to buildings, offices ransacked and damaged facilities.

According to Maruti Suzuki, the troubles began Wednesday morning when an employee has banged a foreman. The unions have refused to impose sanctions and prevented executives leaving the factory. Talks have degenerated and employees have attacked the plant and officials, said Maruti-Suzuki.

Acts of violence were caused by "disparaging remarks" the foreman, said a union member to the Press Trust of India (PTI)."Two Japanese executives were wounded in violence Wednesday. They were hospitalized in a private institution," testified to AFP another official, under cover of anonymity. "We are currently evaluating the damage. Several newly assembled vehicles and parts of the plant were burned by the workers, "he added.

According to an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Maheshwar Dayal, 80 workers were arrested Wednesday night at the factory while nine policemen were injured when their intervention to stop the clashes.

The Manesar plant employs 2,000 people. It produces up to 1,200 vehicles per day, the mini A-Star, Swift and SX4.Une prolonged suspension of production would be a major setback for the group, which has declined by 29% of its annual profit 2011-2012 to 16.36 billion rupees (about $ 320 million).

In autumn 2011, workers from the same plant had been a long strike affecting production, after the dismissal of employees accused of sabotaging the cars on assembly lines.