Fresh Labor Unrest in Noida Over Salary Demands
On Friday, workers staged a new demonstration outside a private company near Sector 8 Jama Masjid in Noida, demanding a salary hike. Police personnel arrived at the location and were observed attempting to calm the agitated workers. This protest follows earlier labor unrest in the industrial area.
Police Uncover Pakistan-Linked Social Media Campaign
In a significant development, Noida Police revealed on Thursday that two accounts on social media platform X, allegedly operated from Pakistan, played a crucial role in escalating violence during the April 13 labor protest over minimum wage increases. According to police investigations, the accounts named Anushi Tiwari (Proud Indian) and Meer Ilyas Inc circulated false claims about multiple fatalities during the protest to incite workers.
Information subsequently obtained from X indicated that both accounts were being operated from Pakistan using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to conceal their origin. An First Information Report (FIR) has been officially registered at the Sector 20 police station regarding this matter.
Coordinated Mobilization Efforts Uncovered
Police authorities are also examining the involvement of a group called Mazdoor Bigul Dasta, whose members allegedly mobilized workers and provoked unrest. Investigators disclosed that three individuals—Rupeesh Roy, Manisha Chauhan, and Aditya Anand—created multiple WhatsApp groups using QR codes on April 10 around 2 AM, shortly after Haryana announced a substantial 35% hike in minimum wages.
Each WhatsApp group reportedly contained over 800 members, including workers from major industrial units such as Motherson and Richa Industries. Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh confirmed that the trio did not originate from Noida and had arrived in the city on March 31. They allegedly conducted meetings with workers across various industrial areas and participated in the April 10 protest demanding wage parity with Haryana workers.
Arrests and Ongoing Manhunt
Roy and Chauhan were apprehended by authorities on April 11, while Anand remains at large. Anand, identified as a BTech graduate from NIT Jamshedpur and a resident of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, is also suspected of involvement in mobilizing protests during the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), according to police statements.
Roy, who also hails from Hazaribagh and works as an auto driver, was allegedly involved in the Manesar protest that preceded Haryana's wage hike decision. Police further revealed that the X accounts under investigation were created by Yogesh, an associate of Roy.
Legal Proceedings and Security Concerns
To date, 13 FIRs have been registered in connection with the case, and 62 accused individuals have been sent to judicial custody. Police authorities have not ruled out invoking the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against some of those involved in the disturbances.
Commissioner Singh characterized the violence as a coordinated attempt to disrupt law and order through a combination of digital misinformation campaigns and on-ground mobilization efforts. The investigation continues as police work to identify all parties responsible for the unrest.
