Noida Protests Disrupt NCR, UP Minister Raises Pakistan Link Angle

Noida: Large-scale protests by factory workers over wage demands brought parts of Noida to a halt on Monday, with widespread disruption reported across the National Capital Region during peak hours.

Thousands of workers gathered at multiple industrial locations, leading to severe traffic congestion on key routes connecting Delhi and surrounding areas. Commuters faced long delays as major roads witnessed heavy gridlock, with some stretches remaining choked for several hours.

The situation escalated in certain pockets, where incidents of vandalism, stone-pelting and damage to property were reported. Security forces were deployed in large numbers to manage the unrest, and measures such as tear gas and limited force were used to disperse crowds.

Amid the developments, Uttar Pradesh minister Anil Rajbhar suggested that the violence may not have been spontaneous, indicating a possible larger conspiracy. He stated that authorities are examining whether external elements could be involved, pointing to recent arrests in the region linked to handlers based in Pakistan.

Officials said that while a significant number of workers participated in the demonstrations, disturbances were confined to specific areas. Multiple cases have been registered, and several individuals have been taken into custody as part of the investigation.

Industry representatives expressed concern over the impact on business operations, citing damage to facilities and disruptions to manufacturing activity. On the other hand, protesting workers maintained that their demands for higher wages remain the central issue, alleging that their concerns had not been adequately addressed.

By later in the day, authorities indicated that the situation was gradually coming under control following increased security deployment. The state government has also announced revised wage structures for workers across different categories in an effort to ease tensions.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events and whether any external influence played a role in escalating the protests.