Mr. M.S. Murali Mohan, trade union leader, was killed in police action outside the factory on January 27, 2012 (Friday). He was mainly involved in the fight against the factory management for workers' rights for better wages and staff regularisation for nearly one month. According to the information received, the Regency Ceramics is the biggest industry in Yanam, which is situated at a distance of about 30 km from Kakinada and has a population of over 42,000. The company employs 1,200 workers. The trade union has been demanding the regularisation of at least those who have put in 15 years of service. Mr. M.S. Murali Mohan, the founder of the union, was picked up on 26 january 2012 (Thursday) night by Yanam Police reportedly on a complaint by the factory management against the workers who have been agitating for better wages and staff regularisation for nearly one month. He was released a little while later. At 6.00 a.m. on 27 January 2012 (Friday), he went to the factory along with some workers and tried to obstruct those who were attending the morning shift. Police personnel who were present at the spot are said to have attacked the trade union leader Mr. M.S. Murali Mohan with lathis (batons), resulting in serious injuries. He collapsed on the spot and was taken by police to the local hospital, where he died. As the news of his death spread, factory workers torched nearly 50 buses and lorries owned by the company. Groups of workers entered the factory, while others rushed to a college run by the management. Few others staged a demonstration in the centre of the town. As the situation went out of control, the police resorted to baton charge and mobs retaliated by throwing stones. The police opened several rounds of fire, which resulted in nine workers sustaining bullet injuries. The workers were rushed to the Government General Hospital at Kakinada. Meanwhile, hundreds of local residents rushed to the factory and the college and looted computers, tables, chairs and ceramic tiles. In the melee, the nearby warehouse of a gas agency was also ransacked, and people made away with 416 refilled cylinders. The police were rushed from Kakinada to restore normality and senior police officials of Puducherry rushed to Yanam.