'We had no other option but to suspend operations there due to unjustified demands by a section of workers and a very aggressive stand taken by them,' he said.

'We are talking to the labour unions and trying to impress upon them the need to trim the workforce to improve the operations'.

The company has also acquired a majority stake in Uniross of France, which is into the rechargeable battery business.

The BM Khaitan group company hopes to have a manufacturing facility in China through Uniross, apart from planning to market the French brand in India, where it enjoys a market share of about 51 percent.

Battery contributes close to 70 percent of the company's turnover, though it is also into lighting, packet tea and flashlight businesses.