Following a protest by workers in Noida that escalated into violence, authorities have arrested 396 individuals, including four women, as confirmed by Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh on Tuesday.
Commissioner Singh reported that security forces have been conducting route marches since 5 a.m. and noted that workers had assembled at three different sites. However, after a brief discussion, they were peacefully dispersed within 15 minutes.
Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of Police, Rajeev Krishna, stated that new electronic and CCTV evidence has surfaced, implicating certain individuals and groups in instigating the unrest. “There are identifiable individuals and organizations that have incited the situation. We have electronic evidence and CCTV footage that will inform our ongoing investigation,” Krishna remarked during a press briefing in Lucknow.
Commissioner Singh also highlighted the emergence of multiple WhatsApp groups created via QR codes for recruiting workers, suggesting the involvement of a structured network. “The creation of these WhatsApp groups, through which workers are being added by scanning QR codes, points to a well-organized syndicate operating behind these events,” she explained.
She further noted that several individuals identified as participants in the unrest have already been apprehended, with more arrests anticipated. Investigations into their financial backers are also underway, with potential actions to be taken if connections to external funding sources are established.
The unrest began on Monday, when thousands of factory workers from various units in Noida’s industrial sector staged a significant protest, demanding improved wages and working conditions. The demonstration turned violent, with protesters throwing stones, vandalizing vehicles, and setting several on fire. This protest followed a recent adjustment of minimum wages by the Haryana government, effective from April 1, 2026.
