The protest march of garment industry workers against the recent amendments to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawals turned violent on Tuesday.

Protesters set fire on buses, cars and two wheelers, a police station in Hebbagodi and Peenya in west Bengaluru were attacked and massive traffic jams were reported across the city.

Police have deployed 52 platoons in the city and were seen with rifles, tear gas guns and batons to control the mobs. The policemen were ordered to control the protesters by bursting tear gas shells and were ordered to fire in the air if they were surrounded.

Tuesday’s protest in Bengaluru saw massive traffic disruptions on Hosur, Mysuru and Tumukuru roads where most of the garment manufacturing units are based. Hosur Road is home to Infosys and Biocon while the country’s largest small industrial estate is located on Tumukuru Road.

The State government and police department officials told reporters that they were caught unawares by the intensity of protests by the unorganised garment industry workers.

Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara appealed to the protesters not to destroy public property and resort to violence. “The police in Bengaluru are handling the situation with restraint,” he said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a press release said he would be deputing the State Labour Minister to discuss the PF issue with the union Labour Ministry.

Garment industry workers were protesting over the new amendments to EPF, wherein employees are allowed to withdraw only their contribution to their provident fund accounts. They will be able to withdraw the employer’s contribution only after they reach 58 years.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Karnataka said it supported the demands of factory workers of revoking the revised age requirement for provident fund withdrawals.

“A large section of our country works hard, and despite that, barely manages to make a living. Considering the high cost of living in urban areas, they are struggling to make ends meet. Under such conditions, the draconian policy of revising the PF withdrawal age limit to 58 years (retirement age) is harsh for such workers who often need to tap into their life-time savings for a myriad of essential needs,” said Shivakumar Chengalaraya, State Co-Convenor, AAP.

He, however, condemned the violence unleashed by the garment workers.

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