Monday, March 28 2005 13:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dubai: An Indian tailor working in a garment factory in Bahrain allegedly committed suicide sparking violent protests by 400 workers who have demanded a probe into the incident.

Madhu Babu, a resident of Tirupati district in Andhra Pradesh, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in an isolated room on Saturday (March 26, 2005) in the premises of a fashion house, which produces clothes for a US company, a media report said.

Babu, 25, arrived in Bahrain eight months ago and was working as a line operator in the factory.

Over 400 workers have called for a probe into the alleged suicide. They claimed Babu was driven into taking his own life because of the ill treatment by the company.

The Indian tailor was suffering from chicken pox for the past two weeks, a report in 'Gulf News' said.

Angry workers went on a rampage damaging machinery, parts of the company's property and five cars after Babu was found dead, it said.

"The company had earlier reprimanded around 16 workers for various incidents and gave them warning letters," a company spokesman said.

The factory, which makes trousers for US Company, J C Penny, has been shut down until the issue is resolved.

The report said the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society has sent an official letter to Bahrain Labour Minister Majeed Al Alawi seeking an investigation into the incident.

The workers also submitted a petition to the Indian and Bangladesh Embassies, as well as the police, demanding action against the company.

The Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) has also taken up the case.