Noida Police Arrest Two Mazdoor Bigul Dasta Members Over April 13 Protest Violence
In a significant development, the Noida police have arrested two members of the workers' rights group Mazdoor Bigul Dasta for their alleged involvement in the violence that erupted during an industrial workers' protest on April 13. The arrests were made on Sunday, with the individuals identified as Himanshu Thakur and Satyam Verma.
Details of the Arrested Individuals
Himanshu Thakur, originally from Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar but residing in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh, and Satyam Verma, from Nishatganj in Lucknow, were taken into custody at the Phase 2 police station after being called in for questioning. According to Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh, both were present in Noida during the violent incidents and maintained constant contact with Aditya Anand, whom authorities have labeled as the 'mastermind' behind the unrest.
Investigations reveal that Thakur joined Mazdoor Bigul Dasta through Aakriti, another individual accused of inciting violence, and actively participated in labor movements alongside Anand. The group is led by Rupesh Roy, who was among those arrested last week in connection with the protests.
Broader Network and Planning Uncovered
Police officials have disclosed that prior to the April 13 protest, Aditya Anand contacted over 70 individuals from various organizations, including Disha Student Organization, Revolutionary Workers' Party of India, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, and Ekta Sangharsh Samiti, to seek their support. A map recovered from Anand's residence in Arun Vihar outlined detailed preparations for the workers' agitation, specifying roles assigned to different individuals and designated gathering locations for protesters.
Further investigations indicate that participants from multiple states, such as West Bengal, Telangana, and Karnataka, traveled to Noida for the protest. Authorities are currently reviewing video footage to identify and apprehend those responsible for acts of arson during the demonstrations.
Legal Proceedings and Defense Arguments
Advocate Manik Gupta, representing Anand, Verma, and Thakur at the Gautam Budh Nagar district court, provided insights into the legal aspects of the case. He stated that while Noida police sought custody remand, the court ordered two days of judicial custody for the accused.
Gupta contested Anand's arrest, noting that he was detained by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Trichy railway station in Tamil Nadu under a BNS offence. He argued that the RPF lacks the authority to arrest individuals under BNS, as their jurisdiction is limited to the Railway Protection Force Act. Additionally, Gupta claimed the arrest was conducted secretly without informing the accused's lawyer, and no transit remand order was obtained from a judicial magistrate to transfer Anand from Tamil Nadu to Noida.
Regarding Thakur and Verma, Gupta asserted that they were not presented before a judicial magistrate within 24 hours of their arrest, as mandated by law, and their grounds of arrest were not disclosed since the FIR does not list them as accused.
However, police sources countered that 17 lawyers defended Anand after his RPF detention, arguing he was falsely implicated to oppose the transit remand. The court ultimately granted the remand, citing a non-bailable warrant and a reward of Rs 1 lakh declared against him.
Separate Case Filed for Arson at Vipul Motors
In a related incident, a separate case has been registered concerning arson and vandalism at Vipul Motors, a car showroom in Sector 63, during the April 13 protest. Pradeep Dixit, the workshop manager, alleged that a mob pelted stones at the facility, entered the premises, assaulted staff members, and attempted to kill a security guard who tried to intervene. The attackers also set fire to the guard room, resulting in several cars being vandalized or burned.
Police have confirmed that participants in this attack remain unidentified, and investigations are ongoing to hold those responsible accountable.
