Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology, a major supplier for technology firms including Apple, halted production at a plant in northern China after a fight broke out among workers, BBC has reported.

Apparently, a personal dispute had disturbed 2,000 workers leaving 40 injured. Finally, police had to be rushed in to contain the situation at the facility that employs about 79,000 workers.

The incident occurred at about 11:00 pm local time Sunday in a dormitory near the Taiyuan manufacturing facility in Shanxi province. And cops brought the situation under control at about 3:00 am.

Parent company Hon Hai said in a statement that "the cause of dispute is under investigation by local authorities and we are working closely with them in this process but it appears not to have been work-related," according to AFP.

Hon Hai spokesman Simon Hsing told AFP Monday that he could not confirm if the Taiyuan facility was shutdown in the wake of the incident.

State media Xinuha reported that the incident "was triggered by a conflict" between a group of workers and a restaurant owner.

The Foxconn plant is said to be engaged in manufacturing electronic components for cars and consumer devices. The company is the world's largest component manufacturer and assembles products for large corporations, including Apple, Sony and Nokia.

Previously, in 2010 the company hit headlines after labor unrest and suicides were attributed to its tough working conditions.

A staff member of the company at the Taiyuan plant said he was informed the plant could be closed up to two to three days for police investigations, according to Reuters.

"There are a lot of police at the site now," the staff member, who requested anonymity, told Reuters over telephone.

Reportedly, calls to the Taiyuan police went unanswered while an official at the plant declined to comment when reached over telephone.

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