Karnataka iPhone plant suspends work after pay row leads to violence

Workers went on a violent rampage at a facility manufacturing Apple iPhones and other products about 60 km from Bengaluru on Saturday morning, causing extensive damage to the premises.

Work has been suspended at Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing India Pvt Ltd’s 43-acre plant in the Narasapura area of Kolar district. Over a hundred people have been arrested, police said.

Violence broke out during a change of shifts at the plant over the non-payment of promised wages, local officials said.

“The workers vandalised the factory over a dispute in payment of salaries. It was an uncalled-for action. The whole reception area was damaged. Phones made at the plant were taken away. A car was burnt and two cars of the company were damaged,” Kolar deputy commissioner C Satyabhama said.