Maruti GM died in Manesar attack,tooth helps identify charred body

Doctors said Dev had sustained multiple fractures on his legs and arms,and the only thing that was intact on his charred body was a gold tooth,which helped identity his body after nearly a day’s efforts.

“Many employees from Maruti had come to identify the body but they did not succeed. The post-mortem examination confirmed he died of suffocation by smoke and was charred later,” a doctor said,adding the DNA sample of Dev’s 16-year-old son,Abhyudit,was preserved for a final confirmation.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said a Special Investigation Team had been formed to take the “strictest possible” action. “There must not be a sense of fear among those employed in the industries,” he told

The Indian Express.

Police said they have registered a case of murder,rioting and arson among others and arrested 99 people for the violence,in which Dev died and at least 100 company officials were injured and 50 vehicles damaged. 

Two Japanese expatriates,including the plant manager,were among the injured.

A Maruti Suzuki India Limited spokesperson said Dev,who was posted at the plant since June 2010,was committed to cordial industrial relations.

“He had been instrumental in the company taking far-reaching steps to enhance the well being and working conditions of workers at the Manesar plant,” the spokesperson said.

Dev completed his schooling from the Kendriya Vidyalaya before pursuing MBA from Xavier Institute of Social Service in Ranchi. His brother-in-law told Newsline,“We can’t believe the mob attacked him. He always worked for their welfare.”

Haryana Chief Secretary P K Chaudhery said the violence erupted after the management took disciplinary action against a worker,and not because of labour disputes.

A Maruti India spokesperson said company officials were still assessing the total damage to property and facilities “The office facilities have been burnt beyond repair,as have the main gate,security office and the fire safety section,” a spokesperson said.

The company said both its plants at the Manesar campus were closed on Thursday,and that it will announce shortly its decision on how soon operations could resume at the plant in which at least 1,700 units are produced every day.