Death of a construction worker near Reliance Industries' Jamnagar refinery complex triggered violence today as the irate labourers torched around 10 vehicles of the company forcing the police to lob teargas shells and fire in the air.
"A worker at the J-3 construction site at Kanaluas village near Jamnagar refinery complex died in the labourers' colony today which triggered the violence," Jamnagar police superintendent Pradip Sejul told PTI.
"When a team of Reliance officials visited the colony to enquire about the incident, some labourers attacked them. Ten vehicles were burnt in the violence," he added.
The company said in a statement that the labourer died of a heart attack.
"One of our labourers died due to heart attack in the residential area near Kanalus village. On account of Ganesh Chaturthi and Vishwakarma Pooja, the construction work at the Jamnagar site was shut today," a statement from Reliance group president for corporate affairs Parimal Nathwani said.
"There were rumours that he (the worker) died in a road accident. Due to the misunderstanding labourers gathered in a large number and started damaging vehicles.
"As the situation turned violent, the police were called in, who fired teargas shells and fired in the air to disperse the crowd," the statement added.
SP Sejul said local police and State Reserve Police Force were deployed in the area to control the situation.
Jamnagar Range inspector general of police D R Patel said the police fired in the air after the mob became violent.
