Engineers, Journalists, Students: The Faces Behind UP Police’s Arrests in Noida Workers' Protest

New Delhi: The protest started by Noida factory workers in mid-April demanding wage hike, improved working conditions, and labour rights has now been framed with allegations of "conspiracy," "violence," and the involvement of "masterminds."

The families, lawyers and associates of those arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with this movement have asserted that this is not merely a law-and-order issue, but rather a broader campaign to criminalise dissent.

On the occasion of May Day, one question that becomes all the more pertinent is: who exactly are the individuals accused of inciting violence, hatching conspiracies, and damaging public property? Are they truly the orchestrators of violence, or are they simply paying the price for standing in solidarity with the workers?

Aditya Anand: From engineer to ‘mastermind’

The police have identified Aditya Anand as the prime accused in this alleged ‘conspiracy’. He was arrested on April 19 from the Tiruchirappalli Railway Station. In a press note, the Uttar Pradesh  Special Task Force stated that they had apprehended a key accused, one of the individuals who allegedly conspired to orchestrate violence and arson under the guise of a workers' movement.

However, the family's account tells a completely different story.

Aditya's brother, Keshav Anand, said that the family was not even informed of the grounds for his arrest; they were notified only by a single phone call. They alleged that while the court granted a two-day custody remand on April 28, neither the family nor the lawyers were subsequently informed of Aditya's whereabouts.

Keshav said that the court order explicitly permitted the lawyers to observe the interrogation proceedings; yet, they were not provided with any information. He said, "The Uttar Pradesh Police are making a mockery of the law and the judicial process." He also said that the police possess no concrete evidence in this case and that Aditya is being held in custody solely under political pressure.

The police alleged that Aditya Anand was the administrator of a WhatsApp group in which a conspiracy to incite violence during the protests was being hatched. However, the family denied this. They maintained that as soon as inflammatory messages began appearing in the group, other members voiced their opposition.

According to the family, Anand had also shared videos in that very group, appealing to people to continue the movement in a completely peaceful manner.

The family recounted that on April 10 and 11, he had visited the site of the workers' protest, which had been ongoing since April 9, merely as a conscientious citizen to express his solidarity. They claimed that when Anand sensed that police action could potentially escalate tensions, he appealed to the people to continue their sit-in peacefully and administered an oath to ensure that the movement would remain non-violent.

Factory workers during a protest demanding a hike in wages, in Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, Monday, April 13, 2026. Photo: PTI

The family said that up until April 10 and 11 – when Aditya and Rupesh Roy were present at the protest site – no violence had occurred. According to them, the situation deteriorated only after their arrest.They alleged that Anand was physically assaulted after being brought to Uttar Pradesh. According to their account, the beating began the moment he was seated in the vehicle, and subsequently, he was taken to an undisclosed location where he was beaten for hours by multiple individuals. These allegations could not be independently verified.

A resident of Jahipur, Bihar, Anand completed his B.Tech from NIT Jamshedpur in the 2016-19 batch. He moved to Noida for his job at Genpact, a multinational corporation. From the very beginning, he was academically brilliant. He became the district topper in his Class 12 examinations by the Bihar Board.

His father, who passed away in 2024, was a teacher at an intermediate college, while his mother worked as a private tutor.

His brother, Keshav, said that Aditya had even received job offers from abroad and could have opted for a high-paying position, but he chose to dedicate himself to working with underprivileged sections of society. Alongside his professional job, he tutored children and remained actively involved in social initiatives.

According to the family, he was associated with the Naujawan Bharat Sabha and often organised events for children on Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary and participated in social welfare activities, such as medical camps. 

"A person who celebrates Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary and works for the betterment of society is today being labelled a traitor to the nation," lamented Keshav.

Himanshu Thakur: From PhD preparation to prison

Twenty-four-year-old Himanshu Thakur was taken into custody on April 18. According to his sister, Neha, the family was informed about his arrest almost 24 hours later. She alleged that during the arrest, neither a warrant was produced nor were the grounds for the arrest disclosed.

The family said that the police seized Thakur’s phone, diary and iPad, but failed to provide a memo or notice about it. In fact, the family was not even informed of where he had been taken after the court order on April 28.

Neha alleged that Thakur was subjected to physical assault while in police custody. She maintains that he had absolutely no involvement with the protests and was implicated solely on the basis of his association with Aditya Anand.

His arrest also took a toll on his family and led to the deterioration of his father’s health, necessitating hospitalisation. Neha said that their father suffers from hearing impairment, making it more difficult for the family to explain the gravity of the situation to him, leaving him deeply traumatised.

Himanshu Thakur holds a Bachelor's degree in History from Hansraj College, Delhi University, and has also completed his Master's degree from the same institution. A NET-qualified individual, he was preparing for admission into a PhD program at the time of his arrest.

Aakriti: Is 'Ideology' the only charge?

Rajnish Chand Yadav, the counsel representing Aakriti, stated that the police have so far failed to clarify under which specific sections of the law she has been arrested. He observed that, at every stage of the process, the authorities appear to be shifting the responsibility onto one another.

According to him, the police's verbal allegation is that Aakriti subscribes to a “leftist ideology” and was inciting labourers.

He questioned that if Aakriti was taken into custody on April 11, how could she possibly have played any role in the incident that occurred on April 13?

According to her counsel, Aakriti had participated in a peaceful protest held on April 10. Yadav asked, "In which Constitution is it written that holding a sit-in or staging a protest is an unlawful act?" 

"People may hold diverse ideologies – some may be communist, others socialist, and some aligned with the BJP – but holding such views does not make anyone a criminal," he added.

Aakriti is an alumna of Delhi University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work. She is from Durgapur, West Bengal, and her father works for a newspaper named Ganashakti.

Rupesh Roy: Torture in Custody

Rupesh Roy is an auto-rickshaw driver by profession and has been associated with Mazdoor Bigul (Workers' Bugle), a magazine dedicated to labour issues. The organisation has claimed that Roy was taken into custody as early as April 11 – that is, prior to the violence that occurred on April 13. One of his colleagues said that he was engaged in reporting for Mazdoor Bigul at the time of his detention by the police.

In a press note issued on April 25, his family and friends stated that Roy’s lawyers have lodged a complaint with senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh Police, alleging torture in custody, the fabrication of evidence, and the staging of recoveries.

The press note detailed how he was subjected to physical and mental torture, and that his injuries were not adequately examined during his medical check-up. It also noted that Roy had alleged that the police took him to a specific location within the NSEZ area of ​​Noida, where bottles of kerosene and torches had already been pre-positioned, and forced him to pick up these items while filming the act.

His lawyers have said that out of approximately 14 FIRs registered in connection with this case, they have so far received copies of only one. Furthermore, essential documents pertaining to his arrest, searches and seizures have not yet been provided. The complaint demands an independent inquiry into these allegations.

Satyam Verma: A journalist arrested

On April 28, the Satyam Verma Rihai Manch (Satyam Verma Release Forum) held a press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi, demanding the release of several detainees, including veteran journalist and translator Satyam Verma. The platform asserted that Satyam Verma has been "unlawfully" implicated in a case involving violence linked to the Noida workers' movement, despite having no direct connection to the movement whatsoever.

The platform's convener, Kavita Krishnapallavi, alleged that Satyam Verma was targeted for his "critical voice" and that attempts were made to exert pressure on him by naming him an accused in the case. According to her, the interrogation without a warrant and the application of pressure began as early as April 11; subsequently, search-and-seizure operations were conducted without following due legal procedure, during which electronic devices and documents were confiscated without a seizure memo.

Krishnapallavi said that Verma had not even set foot in Noida during this period, nor did he have any direct contact with the workers or activists involved.

It was further alleged that following his arrest, Verma was not produced before a court for two days; moreover, he was denied permission to contact his lawyers or even access his essential medication.

The speakers claimed that, throughout this entire episode, the police and the administration are attempting to suppress dissenting voices associated with the workers' movement by framing them as part of a "conspiracy." 

The platform demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter and the immediate release of all those who have been arrested.

Discrepancies in the FIRs

The Wire Hindi obtained copies of three FIRs (First Information Reports) pertaining to this case. The mobile numbers of the investigating officers recorded in these documents were found to be incorrect. 

In all three FIRs, registered at the Noida Phase-3 police station, the entries intended for the officers' mobile numbers contained only nine digits, whereas mobile numbers typically consist of ten digits. Furthermore, the mobile number recorded for the Station House Officer (SHO), Awadhesh Pratap, was also found to be incorrect.

No response from administration

The Wire Hindi reached out to the concerned officials to seek the Uttar Pradesh Police's perspective regarding the FIRs filed in this case, the arrests made, and the allegations levelled by the relatives of those currently detained in custody.

First, the SHO of the Noida Phase-2 police station was contacted. He stated that he was not authorised to comment on the matter and advised contacting the Peshkar (court clerk/assistant) at the Commissioner's office.

Subsequently, Peshkar Abhinash Tyagi at the Commissioner's office was contacted; however, he too declined to comment on the case and suggested speaking with the Media Cell instead.

Upon contacting the Media Cell, an official named Vijay also refused to provide any information, stating that official details regarding this case could only be provided by the Joint Commissioner.

Following this, an attempt was made to contact Joint Commissioner Rajiv Narayan Mishra, but we were unable to speak with him. 

Questions have been sent to him, and this report will be updated once a response is received.

When workers took to streets

Last month, thousands of workers employed in Noida's industrial clusters took to the streets in April. These are labourers who work in the auto parts, electronics, textile, and small-scale manufacturing industries. For years, they had been earning a monthly wage ranging from approximately Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. While the cost of living continued to rise, their income remained largely stagnant.

A significant number of these workers are migrants who reside in cramped rooms on the outskirts of the city, send money back to their families, and manage to survive on their limited income. During this same period, female domestic workers also staged protests outside Noida's upscale residential complexes, demanding wage hikes. 

Prior to the clash on April 13, the workers had staged a peaceful two-day sit-in. On April 11, the state government announced several labour welfare measures, including double pay for overtime work and a 21% hike in the minimum wage. However, the protesters deemed these measures inadequate.

There are two conflicting accounts regarding how the violence erupted. The protesters have alleged that the police used force without any provocation. The police, conversely, maintain that the crowd had turned violent, thereby necessitating the intervention.

Flames billow as a police bike is set ablaze by factory workers during a protest demanding a hike in wages, in Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, Monday, April 13, 2026. The protest carried incidents of arson, vandalism and stone-pelting reported from Phase-2 and Sector 60 areas, police said. Photo: PTI

Subsequently, Noida Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh reported the registration of seven FIRs and the arrest of over 300 individuals. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath characterised the incident as a "conspiracy" aimed at derailing the state's development.

From labour movement to ‘conspiracy’

This case is not merely about a few arrests. It appears to be part of a broader trend in which workers' demands, the solidarity shown by student activists, the presence of journalists, and the participation of social organisations are collectively framed as a "conspiracy."

What began as an issue concerning wages, labour rights and inequality has now evolved into a matter involving civil liberties, police action and judicial processes.

This article first appeared on The Wire Hindi. It has been translated to English by Naushin Rehman.

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