Noida Police Uncover Pakistan-Linked Social Media Campaign Behind Labor Unrest
In a significant development, the Noida police have disclosed that two accounts on the social media platform X, allegedly operated from Pakistan, played a pivotal role in inciting violence during the labor protests on April 13. The demonstrations were organized by workers demanding an increase in the minimum wage, mirroring a recent hike announced in neighboring Haryana.
Digital Misinformation from Across the Border
According to police statements released on Thursday, the accounts named Anushi Tiwari (Proud Indian) and Meer Ilyas Inc were used to disseminate false claims about multiple fatalities during the protest. These posts were designed to provoke and agitate the protesting workers. Subsequent information obtained from X confirmed that both accounts were being managed from Pakistan through the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which mask the user's actual location.
An official First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Sector 20 police station in Noida to investigate these activities. The police are treating this as a serious case of digital interference aimed at disrupting public order.
On-Ground Mobilization and Arrests
Parallel to the online campaign, the police are also probing the involvement of a group identified as 'Mazdoor Bigul Dasta'. This group is accused of actively mobilizing workers and encouraging violent actions during the protests. Three key individuals—Rupeesh Roy, Manisha Chauhan, and Aditya Anand—have been named in connection with these efforts.
Investigations reveal that on April 10, around 2 a.m., these individuals created multiple WhatsApp groups using QR codes. Each group rapidly expanded to include over 800 members, drawing participants from major industrial units such as Motherson and Richa Industries. This mobilization occurred shortly after Haryana announced a substantial 35% increase in minimum wages, sparking demands for similar adjustments in Noida.
Background of the Accused
Noida Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh provided detailed insights into the activities of the accused. None of the three individuals are residents of Noida; they arrived in the city on March 31 specifically to conduct meetings with workers across various industrial sectors. They actively participated in the initial protest on April 10, where industrial workers took to the streets to demand pay parity with their counterparts in Haryana.
Rupeesh Roy and Manisha Chauhan were apprehended by police on April 11. However, Aditya Anand remains at large, evading arrest thus far. Anand, a BTech graduate from NIT Jamshedpur and a resident of Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, has a prior history of involvement in protest mobilizations. Police records indicate he played a role in organizing demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register for Citizens (NRC).
Further investigations link Roy to previous unrest, including the Manesar protest that preceded Haryana's wage hike decision. Roy, also from Hazaribagh, works as an auto-rickshaw driver. The X accounts used in the misinformation campaign were created by an associate of Roy named Yogesh, who has been identified by the police.
Legal Actions and Broader Implications
To date, the Noida police have registered a total of 13 FIRs related to the protest violence, with 62 accused individuals remanded to judicial custody. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against some of the accused, depending on the severity of their involvement.
Commissioner Singh characterized the violence as a coordinated attempt to disturb law and order, blending digital misinformation with on-ground mobilization tactics. This case highlights the growing challenge of cross-border digital interference in domestic affairs and underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and vigilant law enforcement.
The ongoing probe continues to uncover the intricate network behind the protests, emphasizing the dual threats of online propaganda and organized physical agitation in modern civil disturbances.
