CHENNAI, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics' ( SSNLF ) Indian

unit has sued members of a labour union that has led a strike

for 11 days at its only India home appliances plant in the

southern state of Tamil Nadu, escalating tensions with its

workers, legal papers show.

Samsung's lawsuit dated Sept. 12, which Reuters

is first to report, asks a district court in the state for a

temporary injunction to restrain the union and its members from

agitating, sloganeering and making speeches in and around the

factory located near Chennai.

Lawyers were gathered in a court, near Chennai, in

Kancheepuram district, where the case was expected to to be

heard on Thursday.

Hundreds of Samsung workers have since Sept. 9 disrupted

work and protested in a nearby makeshift tent, demanding higher

wages and recognition of a union at the plant that contributes

roughly a third of Samsung's annual India revenue of $12

billion.

The Samsung protests have cast a shadow over Indian Prime

Minister Narendra Modi's plan to court foreign investors to

"Make in India" and tripling electronics production to $500

billion in six years.

Samsung's 14-page court filing, which is not public, said

the union's actions "could disrupt the factory's operations and

prevent willing employees from fulfilling their duties".

Such activities "are likely to escalate, endangering the

smooth functioning of the factory and the safety of its

employees," Samsung said.

Samsung did not respond to a request for comment. Last week,

it told Reuters in a statement it had initiated discussions with

workers at the plant "to resolve all issues at the earliest".