Surat: Police investigating Sunday’s protest by workers of textile embroidery units in Amroli have found that preparations for the agitation had been underway for several days through social media. Officials said messages intended to mobilise and provoke workers were circulated across multiple platforms.Workers took to the streets on Sunday demanding a paid weekly day off. Police have identified at least 12 suspects allegedly linked to the online coordination and have detained them for questioning. Investigators are also examining CCTV footage from the protest site to identify those involved in violence and property damage and to reconstruct the sequence of events.During the protest, Atul Dubey, a head constable attached to the Detection of Crime Branch, sustained a serious facial injury while deployed for duty near Vedanta Circle on Outer Ring Road. Police said Dubey was struck in the face by a stone, resulting in a deep cut that required 12 stitches. He reportedly fainted after the assault. His condition later improved after being treated at a hospital.Police have registered a case against around 500 workers in connection with the incident, charging them with rioting and unlawful assembly. The FIR invokes several provisions of the BNS, including Section 189(2), relating to membership of an unlawful assembly.According to sources, unlike several other segments of the textile industry, embroidery workers do not have a formal weekly holiday system. Workers may get an unofficial day off when unit owners do not have sufficient work because of shortage of materials, but such leave is generally unpaid.Industry sources also pointed to a recurring pattern of labour unrest in the area. The Amroli textile belt has witnessed worker protests in the past, including incidents in which threatening posters reportedly appeared soon after festive holidays, demanding hikes in wages. Sources said such unrest has increasingly become an annual occurrence.The latest protest has drawn particular attention because of the workers’ demand for paid leave and the reported use of social media to organise the agitation. Police have consequently stepped up monitoring of online platforms to gather information about the mobilisation and identify those involved.Proactive action in SachinIn Sachin police station limits, officers on Monday dispersed a group of workers who had begun gathering over wage-related demands. Officials said they acted early to prevent the gathering from growing and persuaded the workers to return to work after addressing their concerns .Unit owners have been asked to immediately alert police if any disturbance occurs. Police said they are maintaining heightened vigilance in the area to prevent escalation and ensure a peaceful working environment.
