Indian police arrested six people after a mob of hundreds of angry workers with iron rods and stones attacked and killed the CEO of a jute factory over his plans to slash working hours and close the factory for several days a week.

The workers stormed the office of 60-year old H.K. Maheswari in the eastern state of West Bengal, demanding to work and be paid for 40 hours a week.  Maheswari wanted to keep it limited to 25 hours per week, and even proposed shutting down the mill for three days a week to stem mounting losses.

“The mill workers suddenly resorted to stone pelting while we were busy in a meeting,” said the factory’s general manager Karanjit Singh.  The CEO looked out the window and was felled by two rocks.  The workers then stormed the office and beat him to death with iron rods. 

West Bengal’s chief minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the attack on labor unions backed opposition parties, which immediately denied responsibility.

Far from getting full time employment, the workers are now likely out of jobs – all work weaving jute fibers into burlap sacks and that sort of rough cloth at the North Brook Jute Mill has been suspended indefinitely.