The violent labor unrest that has gripped Noida for the past four days has taken a serious turn, with the Uttar Pradesh government investigating a potential “Pakistan link” behind the chaos.
State Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar described the protests which saw nearly 45,000 workers hit the streets as a “well-planned conspiracy” by anti-national forces aimed at destabilising the state’s development and law and order, said reports.
As of Monday night, police have arrested approximately 350 individuals and detained over 100 others for questioning. The unrest, which initially began as a demand for wage parity with neighboring Haryana, escalated into widespread arson and vandalism across Phase-2, Sector 60, Sector 62, and Sector 84.
Authorities are currently scanning CCTV footage from various factories to identify additional instigators.
Links to Terror Suspects and External Interference
Minister Anil Rajbhar revealed that the investigation is looking into external provocations following the recent arrests of four terror suspects in Noida and Meerut who allegedly had handlers based in Pakistan.
“The incident appears to have been carried out with the intention of disrupting the development and law and order of the state,” Rajbhar stated. He added that the proximity of these arrests strengthens the possibility of a conspiracy to create instability.
There are also allegations that the timing of the violence was intended to disrupt Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s scheduled program in Muzaffarnagar.
Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh noted that while many local laborers dispersed peacefully, “unruly elements” from outside the district arrived at the borders to incite tension.
“They moved around attempting to incite tension and provoke violence. We have taken some members of this group into custody,” Singh confirmed.
Mass Protests and the Demand for Pay Parity
The scale of the agitation was massive, with police estimates suggesting that between 40,000 and 45,000 workers gathered at more than 80 locations across the commissionerate. The primary trigger was a recent wage hike in Haryana, leading Noida workers to demand similar pay raises to combat rising inflation.
The situation turned particularly volatile near the Motherson company premises and in Sector-63, where police were forced to use tear gas to disperse stone-pelting crowds.
In an effort to de-escalate, officials have announced that four out of five major demands raised by the workers have already been accepted. A high-level committee has been established to resolve the remaining issues, and one formal meeting has already taken place to bridge the gap between industrial units and the workforce.
Call for Peace and ‘Shramev Jayate’
The state government has urged workers to return to their jobs and avoid being swayed by misinformation. Minister Rajbhar emphasized the principle of “Shramev Jayate” (Labor Wins), asserting that the government is committed to worker welfare but will not tolerate anarchy.
Currently, heavy police and paramilitary forces remain deployed to maintain a fragile peace. Seven separate cases have been registered across various police stations against “anti-social elements” involved in the violence.
Authorities continue to appeal to the public to ignore rumors and cooperate with the administration as normalcy is slowly restored to the industrial hub.
