A major labour unrest broke out on Thursday, 26 February 2026, at the AM/NS project site in Hazira, Surat, involving nearly 5,000 contract workers deployed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T).<br /><br />What Triggered the Protest?<br /><br />The workers alleged that they were being paid only ₹600–₹700 per day despite performing high-risk industrial work. They also demanded:<br /><br />Reduction of duty hours from 12 hours to 8 hours<br /><br />Wage revision in line with industry standards<br /><br />Tensions escalated when the protest turned violent. An agitated mob allegedly set several vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers, on fire. Company assets such as fire engines and access-control systems were also reportedly damaged.<br /><br />Police Action<br /><br />To control the situation, Surat Police carried out a mild lathi-charge and fired between 35 and 70 tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. At least three police personnel, including a DCB inspector, sustained injuries during the clashes.<br /><br />More than 25 workers have been detained. Police are in the process of registering FIRs, with some detainees likely to face serious charges, including attempt to murder.<br /><br />Alleged Trigger Behind Escalation<br /><br />According to a report by The Times of India, the unrest was reportedly fuelled by viral videos of a similar protest at an IOCL refinery in Panipat following a worker’s death, which heightened tensions among workers at the Hazira site.<br /><br />Company Response<br /><br />AM/NS India stated that L&T management is in dialogue with worker representatives to address the grievances and restore normalcy.<br /><br />L&T, in a statement reported by The Week, said it will implement all provisions of the new labour code once notified by the Gujarat government.<br /><br />Authorities have deployed additional security at the site, and investigations are ongoing to assess the full extent of the damage and identify those responsible for the violence.
