On Friday, the Gurugram sessions court in Haryana convicted 31 workers and acquitted 117 who were embroiled in a dispute with Maruti Suzuki for violent clashes in the Manesar plant in 2012. Out of the 31 convicts, 13 workers were charged with Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substances), which would amount to life imprisonment, apart from 427 (mischief) and 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) . Four have been charged with 452 (trespassing), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapons to cause death), 149 (unlawful assembly in furtherance of a common intention). Rest of the 14 have been convicted with 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 427 (mischief), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons). The quantum of punishment is expected to be announced on March 17.

There is heavy deployment of police along with paramilitary forces and anti-riot squad inside the court and around Manesar and Gurugram.

(Source: Nayanjyoti, activist)

While the police has imposed Section 144 (unlawful assembly) in Gurugram and Manesar until March 15, labour unions and their representatives are holding meetings today despite the curfew. Union representatives of Suzuki Motorcycle, Suzuki Powertrain, Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar and Gurugram plant were present at the court along with family members of 148 workers who had a charge against them.

The charges against the workers convicted was announced by additional district and sessions court judge RP Goyal.

At 4pm, about 1,000 workers of Maruti Manesar plant in the A-shift are expected to hold a meeting at Kamla Nehru Park in Gurugram. However, the police has refused to give permission for a protest march that the workers’ union had planned. Along with the four Maruti Suzuki’s working union, representatives from 20 other companies are also present at the venue.