High tension prevailed in the Union Territory of Yanam since this morning after Mr Muralimohan, union leader of the Regency Ceramics company, had died after sustaining injuries in police lathi charge.

Additional police forces have been rushed to the UT from Kakinada to oversee law and order and senior officials have been asked to monitor the situation.

It all began with some of the 800 workers, who have been on strike for the last one month, trying to stop a few workers from attending duties at the main gates of the factory. The workers under the leadership of union leader Mr Muralimohan tried to prevent workers going inside at the main gates violating the court orders that no worker should agitate with in a radius of 200 meters at the main gates.

The management had complained to the police resulting in lathicharge at the premises of the factory. Muralimohan, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries a little while later.  The police have also arrested some 100 workers.

With the death of their leader, most of the workers turned violent and set fire to the company buses and trucks parked in the compound and also some private vehicles plying on the high way. The angry workers also attacked the local police station demanding the arrest of policemen responsible for the death of their leader.

Police responded with firing this time seriously injuring three workers who were rushed to the hospital. Later, the workers attacked the company vice president Mr Chandrasekhar and seriously injured him.  He later died at a Kakinada hospital.

Meanwhile, some anti social elements resorted to looting the company premises taking advantage of the confusion prevailed in its premises. (JUBS)