Last Updated on April 14, 2026 4:08 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
AGENCIES / WEB DESK / NOIDA GREATER NOIDA
NOIDA GREATER NOIDA witnessed a second consecutive day of unrest on Tuesday, as fresh incidents of stone pelting and clashes between workers and police spread across multiple sectors of the city. What began as a wage protest on Monday has now spiraled into widespread violence, leaving authorities scrambling to restore order.
On Monday, more than 40,000 factory workers gathered at over 80 locations across Gautam Buddh Nagar, protesting after the Haryana government announced a hike in minimum wages. The demonstrations, initially peaceful, turned chaotic in Phase‑2 and Sector 63, where vehicles were set ablaze, properties vandalized, and stones hurled at security personnel. Traffic on key roads was paralyzed, and public and private property suffered extensive damage. Police deployed tear gas and reinforcements to contain the situation, eventually detaining over 300 people for arson and vandalism, while another 100 were taken in for questioning. CCTV footage is being examined to identify more suspects.
Authorities said the violence was not solely the result of worker unrest. Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh stated that “outsiders” attempted to incite tension after the labourers had dispersed peacefully. “A group from outside the district arrived in border areas, provoking violence. Several members have been detained, and we are identifying the rest,” Singh told reporters. Seven FIRs have been registered, and police confirmed that “anti‑social elements” were among those taken into custody.
Despite efforts to calm tensions, Tuesday saw renewed violence. In Sector 80, workers clashed with police, while in Sector 70 repeated stone pelting injured several personnel. The unrest spread to residential areas, with police vehicles attacked in Sector 121’s Cleo County. School children in the vicinity were forced to take shelter in nearby hotels as the situation deteriorated. Sub‑Inspector Mata Prasad Gupta reported injuries after miscreants threw stones during a sit‑in protest by domestic workers. “Some have been caught and will be questioned further,” he said.
The Uttar Pradesh government has described the violence as a “well‑planned conspiracy.” Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar pointed to recent arrests of suspected terrorists in Meerut and Noida, claiming links to handlers in Pakistan. “The possibility of a conspiracy to destabilize the state gains strength,” he said. The government also dismissed rumours that industries in Noida were refusing to implement a wage board decision of ₹20,000 minimum pay, calling such claims false.
Police have confirmed that individuals from other states were involved in Monday’s violence. FIRs have been lodged against two social media accounts, while around 50 more have been identified for spreading misinformation. The Special Task Force (STF) will investigate the digital trail to determine the extent of online incitement.
As security forces remain deployed across Noida, the city continues to grapple with tension and uncertainty. Authorities insist they are working to restore calm, but the scale of the unrest has raised concerns about industrial stability and public safety in one of India’s busiest economic hubs.
Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar has termed the violence in Noida as a well-planned conspiracy. He said that in recent days, four suspected terrorists have been arrested from Meerut and Noida, whose links were connected to handlers based in Pakistan. In such a situation, the possibility of a conspiracy to create instability in the state gains strength.
On the other hand, the state government has also clarified that it is false information that wage board has decided 20 thousand rupees as minimum wage, and the industries in Noida are not following it. Meanwhile, state police is keeping an eye on the situation in Noida.