Fresh protest in Noida as workers protesting over low wages clash with cops again
A fresh protest broke out in Noida’s Sector 80 on Tuesday, with workers agitating over low wages clashing with police and some resorting to stone-pelting. Police moved in to disperse the crowd, chasing away protesters and eventually clearing the area.
Before the protests turned violent, police were explaining the next hike to workers, who were demanding monthly pay of not less than Rs 20,000. The police said miscreants were trying to take advantage of the situation.
Earlier in the day, workers from the Ahuja factory had staged a peaceful protest outside the unit, raising concerns over wage-related issues. Several workers expressed dissatisfaction with the recent wage hike and demanded that government-declared rates be displayed at factory gates.
Workers also flagged disparities in allowances, alleging that both skilled and unskilled labourers were being paid similar benefits. They further claimed that employees were being terminated within nine months and rehired to avoid increasing allowances.
Concerns were also raised over wages during and after apprenticeship, with workers stating they were paid Rs 90 per hour initially, which had dropped to Rs 50 per hour after a year. At the same time, many fear that enforcing government-mandated wages could lead to job losses, adding to their uncertainty.
The Noida protests entered their second day today, with nearly 45,000 workers from various sectors across 80 locations in the commissionerate participating on the first day. Reports of violence emerged from certain areas, especially in Sector 63 and near the Motherson company premises.
Police in Noida today carried out a flag march to restore normalcy and build public confidence. Senior officials, including the DGP, ADG (Law & Order), and IG (Law & Order), have been continuously monitoring the situation from the Police Headquarters control room since 7 am.
Heavy deployment has been made across the commissionerate, with 15 companies of RRF, RAF, and PAC stationed in sensitive areas. Additional Quick Reaction Teams have also been deployed to deal with any emergency situation.
Drone surveillance and sector-wise policing have been implemented, while police outposts are being closely supervised by gazetted officers.
The Noida Police said that they have registered seven FIRs and taken more than 300 individuals involved in vandalism and arson into custody in connection with Monday’s violence.
FIRs have also been filed against two X (formerly Twitter) handles for spreading unverified and baseless rumours. In addition, over 50 bot accounts have been identified, many of which were created within the last 24 hours.
The Uttar Pradesh government said that a Special Task Force (STF) will investigate the digital trail of these accounts. The police have urged citizens to rely only on official information and avoid circulating unverified content.
Appealing for peace and restraint, UP DGP Rajeev Krishna warned of strict action against those involved in violence, arson, and damage to public or private property, adding that compensation would be recovered from offenders. He further assured the public that the situation is fully under control, adequate police forces have been deployed, and there is no need to panic.
