Damage claims differ at ransacked iPhone plant

Wistron Ltd has claimed a loss of Rs 437 crore at its Karnataka iPhone manufacturing plant after it was ransacked by workers. The police say experts are still assessing the damage, while a lawmaker has said losses to the plant could be around Rs 15 crore.

Kolar: Taiwan-headquartered Wistron Corporation Ltd. on Monday said that it has suffered losses worth Rs 437 crores in the violence in its facility unleashed by a section of workers over salary issues at its plant in Kolar district in Karnataka.

BJP MLA Sadappa Muniswamy said that the manufacturing plant suffered a loss of Rs 15 crore, while the Kolar police said that the exact amount is yet to be known. Experts are Bengaluru are estimating the loss suffered by iPhone manufacturing plant run.

Sadappa Muniswamy said that parents of many parents of the accused are coming and telling me that their children are innocent

"I have spoken to BJP leader Jagadish Shetter and he said that the state and central government will provide protection to the company. Shettar has also asked me to look into the company's welfare to make sure that they don't re-locate. A meeting between political leaders and police officers will be convened to solve the problem."

READ: Wistron plant issue: Apple undertakes detailed investigation

A total of 149 people have been arrested and 25 more suspects are being questioned in connection with their alleged involvement in the ruckus.

Kolar SP Karthik Reddy said, "We have arrested 149 people and 25 more being questioned. The accused have been arrested based on CCTV footages and social media conversations. A large number of employees are in our custody and most of them are young. We have let go of three employees and the company has received information about the employees who are involved in the violent act. A total of ten teams have been formed and the worth of stolen laptops and mobiles is yet to be estimated.

All the accused have been sent to Kolar, KGF and Chintamani Jail via bus along with the assigned police forces