Meanwhile, the Labour Department said the workers' wage issue triggered the problem, while police maintains that the mill management wants to close down the mill. The management, however, denied either issues as the cause behind the violence and, instead, says rivalry within unions led to the problem.

The management alleged that despite presence of over 35 police and SRP personnel at the mill in the aftermath of the violence took place, the police is not doing enough. Mill management sources said besides arriving two hours late at the spot on November 6, the police has arrested only 12 accused out of the list of 50 given to them. All the 12 arrested persons are at present free on bail.

The Ukai police, which is investigating the case, however, suspects the management is looking for an excuse to close production at the mill despite the prevailing peace.

Y B Purohit, DGM (Public Relations and Administration) said rivalry between unions led to the violence in mill premises. ``The situation, at present, is extremely volatile. People are threatening officials, and their families cannot venture out of homes,'' he told Express Newsline.

According to G P Vyas, DGM, Personnel, the company neither planned to stop production, nor does it intend to delay the workers' pay. ``If those were the reasons, then we would not have paid them on the November 6, instead of 10 and could have closed down the mill the same day when violence broke out,'' he said. Asked to name the actual culprits, Vyas said although the CPM Employees Union and CPM Staff Association were the recognised unions, the trouble was caused by anti-social elements who were instigating the workers.

He said on the day of the riot 12 senior officials were attacked by workers, while the mob damaged 22 cars and 12 scooters. Housing complexes were stoned and abuses were showered by the workers from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm, during which time the police did not arrive, he said. ``The local police has not been co-operative at all,'' Vyas alleged.

A C Dubey of the Ukai police station, however, felt according to investigations and sources, everything was going smoothly. ``Workers feel the management is looking for an excuse to stop production as the season for bamboo comes to an end and raw materials become costlier,'' Dubey said.

Meanwhile, assistant labour commissioner H D Gamit said on Tuesday that Labour Officer R C Patani has been asked to go to the spot and submit a report. ``The report will be available by tomorrow, but it seems that the salary and bonus issue sparked off the violence,'' Gamit said. Union leaders were not available for comment.