Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo today faced a major backlash after an employee allegedly "tore the National Flag and dumped it in a dustbin" at the company's Noida office.
High drama ensued at Oppo's Noida Sector 63 office after the Tricolour was reportedly found in a dustbin. The flag was allegedly dumped by a Chinese national who works as a production manager in the company.
The news spread like wildfire and hundreds of protesters, including Indian employees of Oppo and members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, gathered outside the office. The protesters were also seen carrying the national flag.
The Phase-3 police registered a case against the Chinese national on a complaint by other employees, according to a report by the Hindustan Times. However, the protesters were not pacified by the police action and demanded immediate arrest of the Chinese national.
The residents of neighbouring colonies also joined protesters in support. While some joined the protesters, many climbed on their rooftops and waved the Indian flag in solidarity.
A force of over 200 police personnel was deployed at the scene to control the crowd.
Protesters dispersed after senior police and district administration officials assured them of swift and strict action.
Umed Singh Yadav, the station house officer of Phase-3 police station, said the incident had allegedly taken place on Monday evening. The employees accused the Chinese national of taking down an Indian flag that was pasted on a wall and dumping it in a dustbin, he said.
“We have registered a case and the company has extended its support for the investigation. We have sought the camera footage of the office so that we can check the claim of the employees,” Singh was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The plant is used for assembling Oppo phones and employs nearly 4,000 who work in two shifts.
