Bystanders intervened and dragged one of the alleged attackers, Tapan Sen, down the street to the police station.

WSJ: On India's Streets, Women Run a Gantlet of Harassment

"The workers are being totally ignored and this is reflected in the government's anti-labour policies, " Tapan Sen, general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), told the AFP news agency.

BBC: Sporadic violence marks India reforms strike

"The strike is to protest against the economic policies of the government, against liberalisation and globalisation which is affecting labour and the poor of the country, " said Tapan Sen, National Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions.

BBC: Bombay Central station