Noida was brought to a standstill on Monday as massive protests by factory workers demanding higher wages disrupted life across the NCR, with authorities probing a possible conspiracy behind the violence.
The demonstrations, involving tens of thousands of workers, led to severe traffic snarls on key routes including the DND Flyway and major highways linking Delhi and Noida. Industrial areas such as Phase-2, Sector 60, Sector 62 and Sector 84 turned into flashpoints, with incidents of arson, stone-pelting and vandalism reported.
Anil Rajbhar described the unrest as a “well-planned conspiracy,” citing recent terror-related arrests and saying agencies were examining possible links to handlers in Pakistan.
Police said around 42,000 workers gathered across multiple locations, though violence was limited to certain pockets. Security forces used tear gas and lathicharge in some areas to disperse crowds, while officials said minimum force was applied.
Industry bodies raised concerns over attacks on factories and infrastructure, while workers alleged police action triggered the violence and reiterated demands for wage hikes—from ₹10,000–₹15,000 to ₹18,000–₹20,000 per month.
By afternoon, the situation was largely brought under control with heavy deployment. The government announced revised minimum wages and set up a high-level committee to address grievances, even as disruptions continued to ripple across the region.
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