Maruti workers collect money for jailed colleagues

Workers of Maruti Suzuki on Saturday handed over cheques of Rs 50,000 each to the families of 36 sacked workers who are on trial for their alleged involvement in violence at the company’s Manesar plant in July 2012.

Workers at Maruti Suzuki’s Gurgaon plant collected nearly Rs 20 lakh.

Every employee deposited Rs 1,000 in the bank account of Maruti Udyog Kamgar Union.

“Cheques amounting to Rs 50,000 each were handed over to the family members of all 36 jailed workers,” workers’ union general secretary Kuldeep Janghu said.

The 36 sacked workers are currently in Bhondsi jail in connection with the violence at the Manesar plant on July 18, 2012, in which senior executive Awanish Kumar Dev was killed and over 50 employees were injured.

A total of 148 workers were arrested, and 112 are currently out on bail. The accused were on Saturday produced before a court. The next hearing in on May 21.