Indian citizen running a BOI factory in Chilaw abducted, assaulted by local politician

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2010, 16:30 GMT]
A local politician who is the Chairman of a local council in Chilaw district in the North Western province is alleged to have abducted and assaulted an Indian Businessman on June 8 Tuesday. He was admitted in a private hospital in Colombo Wednesday morning and is beign treated. The victim has been identified as M. Maniyam Hariraj, the owner of the factory approved by the Board of Investment (BOI). This incident took place following a dispute between the workforce and the management of the factory, sources in Chilaw said.

Employees of the factory had protested against the move by the Indian businessman placing them on contract basis with effect from June 1.

Meanwhile, they met the Chairman of the Aarachchikaduva Pradeshiya Sabha (PS), Jagath Samantha and requested him to intervene in the dispute.

The Chairman of PS met the factory management to bring about a settlement.

In the meantime the employees staged a walkout causing the closure of the factory.

When the Indian owner Maniyam Hariraj arrived from India on June 8 to re-open his factory he was alleged to have been abducted and assaulted by Jagath Samantha.

The matter was immediately brought to the notice of a prominent cabinet minister who instructed Chilaw Police to hold an inquiry into the complaint of the Indian businessman, the sources said.