Noida Violence: Two Arrested, Third on Run; Police Probe ‘Systematic’ Plot and Pakistan-Linked Social Media Handles

Police have arrested two individuals and are searching for a third accused for allegedly “systematically” instigating violence and large-scale arson ahead of last week’s factory workers’ protests in Noida, officials said.

Laxmi Singh, commissioner of police, Gautam Budh Nagar, identified the accused as Rupesh Roy, an autorickshaw driver from Bihar; Aditya Anand, a B.Tech graduate from Jamshedpur; and Manisha Chouhan from Gopalganj. Roy and Chouhan have been arrested, while Anand remains absconding.

Investigators said the trio was tracked using electronic surveillance and photo analysis, with alleged involvement in protests across multiple locations including Delhi, Hyderabad, and Manesar.

Police have also registered FIRs against two social media handles on X, which they claim were created in India but operated from Pakistan over the past three months. Authorities allege these accounts spread misinformation to incite unrest and have said the National Security Act will be invoked.

How the violence was planned
According to police, the accused were present in Noida on March 31 and April 1. On April 9–10, they allegedly created multiple WhatsApp groups of factory workers by circulating QR codes sourced from Haryana-based companies’ groups. Each group had over 1,000 members and was used to mobilise workers and encourage road blockades.

“Three groups were created around 2 am on April 10, directing people where to gather and protest,” an official said.

Police claim that even after initial talks between workers and authorities eased tensions on April 11, the accused delivered provocative speeches, leading to renewed unrest. Roy and Chouhan were arrested later that night.

On April 13, misleading posts circulated on X—falsely claiming deaths and injuries due to police action—triggered fresh violence after the situation had been briefly contained, police said. Links to these posts were allegedly found on protesters’ phones.

Authorities said Roy has been involved in protests since 2018, while Anand’s activities date back to 2020. Investigators are now probing funding sources and how the accused managed interstate travel.

So far, 13 FIRs have been registered and 62 people arrested across the district for rioting, arson, and vandalism.

The unrest began on April 10 in Noida’s Phase 2 after wage hikes announced by the Haryana government triggered unrest among workers. While protests remained limited for the first three days, they turned violent on April 13, with over 100 factories vandalised and several vehicles set ablaze.