Tensions ran high as workers’ protest over wage hike turns violent in Noida

Police officials said, since morning, workers have begun their sit-in protests in Noida’s Sector 63, Sector 62, Sector 15, Phase-2 industrial area, Surajpur, Knowledge Park area, Dadri area, and Ecotech-1 industrial area.

He said that at many places, the workers blocked roads and there were also scuffles with the police at several locations.

At several places, agitated workers pelted stones at the police, and there were reports of cars being set on fire and vandalism inside factories. Following this, the police had to use force to disperse them and also had to use tear gas.

The officer added that the workers also attacked a police vehicle.Senior police officers are deployed at the spot with heavy force, while the workers are standing firm on their demands.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajiv Narayan Mishra said that the police are monitoring every situation.

He said efforts are being made to persuade the workers. He added that the industrialists have accepted some of the workers’ demands and appeals are being made to them to end the agitation peacefully.

District Magistrate Medha Roopam and the police administration have appealed to the workers to maintain peace and not take the law into their own hands.

Due to the workers’ agitation, the police had to divert vehicle routes at several places, and office-goers were seen struggling with long traffic jams in the morning hours.

A representative of an industrial organisation, Lalit Thukral, alleged that this sit-in protest is sponsored and some external elements are instigating the workers to carry out these demonstrations.

 According to him, most of the workers’ demands have already been accepted, yet the workers are not returning to work.

District Magistrate Roopam said that in a meeting with industrialists and leaders of various industrial organisations, it was made clear that as per the government’s guidelines, no worker will be removed from service unnecessarily.

She clarified that any violation of workers’ rights will not be acceptable under any circumstances, and strict action will be taken against the concerned parties if any complaint is received.