TVK MLA, supporters booked over factory trespass, worker assault

PUDUCHERRY: Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA A K Sai Saravanakumar and his supporters were booked on charges of trespassing into an industrial unit under the guise of undertaking an inspection and allegedly assaulting a worker at Thirubuvanai in Puducherry.They were booked under Sections 189 (2), 329 (3), 296 (b) and 115 (2) read with 351 (2) of the BNS after the factory's human resources managers lodged a complaint with the Thirubuvanai police, accusing them of unauthorised entry into the industrial premises.In response, the MLA lodged a complaint with the PCR Cell, alleging that the management of the industrial unit had engaged in caste-based discrimination, intimidation and obstruction of a public representative in discharging his duties. In his complaint, the MLA said he decided to inspect the facility following complaints of caste-based discrimination and malpractices at the industrial unit. He alleged that women workers faced hardships at the worksite. He also accused the industrial management of encroaching on a pond and a piece of land belonging to a temple in the locality.The MLA said that when he reached the factory with his supporters, a group led by two human resources managers, Arunkumar and Sivasankar, physically blocked their entry. When they questioned the denial of entry to an elected representative, the group allegedly hurled casteist slurs at the MLA and warned him against entering the premises. The legislator further stated that he was denied basic parliamentary courtesy, forced to sit in a security cabin and subjected to an aggressive verbal confrontation.“To prevent any law and order disruption or communal tension in my constituency, I chose to withdraw from the site and refrain from immediately going public with all the details,” the MLA noted in his complaint, demanding strict legal action against those involved.The PCR Cell registered a case against 30 people, including two HR managers, two security personnel and others, under Sections 189 (2) and 126 of the BNS and Section 3 (1) (r) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, read with Section 190 of the BNS. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.