Garment workers' protest: Police caught napping by scale of violence
BENGALURU: Karnataka has been placed under high alert after violent protests by garment factory workers brought Bengaluru to a halt on April 18 and 19. A red faced government, which has been on the receiving end by the Opposition parties for failing to foresee, prevent and control the mob violence by “yet-to –be-identified” people in the garment factory workers protest has escalated the alert across the State, besides implementing Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Bengaluru for three days.
“The State has been put on alert and all district superintendents of police, especially where there is a sizeable population of unorganized labour have been asked to be vigilant,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.
He added that while the police and Intelligence knew about the garment factory workers protest, they were caught “unawares” by the scale of violence that threatened the law and order situation in the City and its outskirts. “The kind of violence, which was unleashed on Monday and Tuesday, was unprecedented. It seems to be premeditated and organised. The leaders of garment factory workers said that their people were not involved and some outsiders indulged in violence. It needs to be investigated,” the officer added.
Police too short staffed to control protests, says Karnataka High Court
Following the violent incidents during protests by garment factory workers against recent amendments to Employee Provident Fund (EPF) rules, which took the police by surprise, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday observed that the protests were uncontrollable due to staff shortage in police department.
The court further observed that the incident highlights the alarming gap between the state government and its intelligence department. The court also directed the DG &IGP to hold a meeting with ADGP (Recruitment and Training) on April 22, over filling in vacant posts in police and intelligence department. The court directed the state police to file a report on April 23. “There is severe staff shortage with more than 25 per cent of the posts in the police department lying vacant,” court observed.
What is your intelligence department doing, the court questioned the state, while observing that the state has not learnt from the previous incidents.
Losses due to clashes
While pointing out to the initial protests held by garment factory workers protests on Monday, the court felt that the police should have been more prepared in avoiding the repetition of such protests. But, the protests continued even on Tuesday which turned more violent, and led to huge loss to public property with several policemen and innocents suffering injuries, court said. It questioned the state government on whom should be held responsible for the Tuesday’s incidents.
The court also pointed out that though it was assured that vacant posts in the police department will be filled, no measures were taken, it said. It also took serious note of failure of intelligence department in the incident.
