KOLAR: Workers at Tata Electronics and System Solutions’ plant in Narasapur Industrial Area near Kolar raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the death of their 24-year-old colleague, Sreemanthi, and demanded an inquiry into the medical assistance provided to her.Workers began protesting late Wednesday, but suspended the agitation by Thursday afternoon after officials assured them that action would be taken if anyone was found guilty of negligence.Sreemanthi, a native of Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, fell ill around 8.30pm on Wednesday and was taken to the factory’s Occupational Health Clinic (OHC), where she received preliminary medical attention.After being allowed to rest for some time, she reportedly complained of severe abdominal pain and was shifted to Jalappa Hospital in Kolar after midnight, where she died.Kolar superintendent of police Kannika Sikrival said three doctors at the factory clinic attended to Sreemanthi after she fell ill. Vemagal police have registered an unnatural death report (UDR), and further investigation is underway, she said.Following news of her death, workers from the evening shift came out of the factory and raised slogans against the authorities, alleging that the company had failed to respond adequately to her condition.Her colleagues claimed Sreemanthi had called her family around 10.30pm and told them she was sinking, but the authorities had failed to act promptly. They questioned why she had remained at the factory for several hours instead of being shifted to a higher medical facility sooner.The workers demanded a thorough investigation into the medical assistance provided to her and action against those responsible if negligence was established.Sikrival and other senior police officials visited the spot and spoke to the workers, bringing the situation under control within a couple of hours.Narasimhamurthy, deputy director of the Department of Factories and Industrial Safety, said nearly 30,000 employees work at the plant across three shifts. He visited the premises along with officials from the labour and other departments and heard the workers’ grievances.Sreemanthi had reportedly been working at the company for three years and was staying in paying guest accommodation.The premises were previously operated by iPhone manufacturer Wistron. In December 2020, violent protests by workers led to extensive vandalism and losses reportedly estimated at nearly Rs 100 crore, following which the company decided to shut its operations.
