Noida (PTI): Under attack over the killing of a CEO of an Italian auto component company in Noida, police have arrested over 100 people, including 63 on charges of rioting and murder, while the Centre said "simmering discontent among workers" could be the reason behind the incident.

One hundred and thirty-six people have been arrested in connection with the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police (Noida) R K Chaturvedi said on Tuesday.

L K Chaudhury, the CEO and Managing Director of Cerlikon-Graziano Transmissions India in Udyog Vihar, was killed on Monday when agitating workers turned violent and beat him up with an iron rod after a meeting called to resolve the dispute between them and the management failed.

Chaturvedi admitted that the response from the police was delayed and the Station House Officer (SHO) of the area concerned has been suspended.

He said the attack was sudden and unprovoked over the contents of an apology letter because the meeting was expected to be smooth for a settlement of a dispute. In all, he said, 136 have been arrested and 63 of them on charges of murder and rioting.

While an outraged India Inc condemned the killing saying it will damage the country's image among global investors, Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes said the incident should serve as a "warning" for the managements.

"It is my appeal to the managements that the workers should be dealt with compassion," he said adding "there are disparities in the wages of permanent employees and contract workers. The workers should not be pushed so hard that they resort to whatever that had happened in Noida."