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New Delhi: The protest started by Noida factory workers in mid-April demanding wage hike, improved working conditions, and labour rights has now been framed with allegations of “conspiracy,” “violence,” and the involvement of “masterminds.”

The families, lawyers and associates of those arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with this movement have asserted that this is not merely a law-and-order issue, but rather a broader campaign to criminalise dissent.

On the occasion of May Day, one question that becomes all the more pertinent is: who exactly are the individuals accused of inciting violence, hatching conspiracies, and damaging public property? Are they truly the orchestrators of violence, or are they simply paying the price for standing in solidarity with the workers?

Aditya Anand: From engineer to ‘mastermind’

The police have identified Aditya Anand as the prime accused in this alleged ‘conspiracy’. He was arrested on April 19 from the Tiruchirappalli Railway Station. In a press note, the Uttar Pradesh  Special Task Force stated that they had apprehended a key accused, one of the individuals who allegedly conspired to orchestrate violence and arson under the guise of a workers’ movement.

However, the family’s account tells a completely different story.

Aditya’s brother, Keshav Anand, said that the family was not even informed of the grounds for his arrest; they were notified only by a single phone call. They alleged that while the court granted a two-day custody remand on April 28, neither the family nor the lawyers were subsequently informed of Aditya’s whereabouts.

Keshav said that the court order explicitly permitted the lawyers to observe the interrogation proceedings; yet, they were not provided with any information. He said, “The Uttar Pradesh Police are making a mockery of the law and the judicial process.” He also said that the police possess no concrete evidence in this case and that Aditya is being held in custody solely under political pressure.

The police alleged that Aditya Anand was the administrator of a WhatsApp group in which a conspiracy to incite violence during the protests was being hatched. However, the family denied this. They maintained that as soon as inflammatory messages began appearing in the group, other members voiced their opposition. According to the family, Anand had also shared videos in that very group, appealing to people to continue the movement in a completely peaceful manner.

The family recounted that on April 10 and 11, he had visited the site of the workers’ protest, which had been ongoing since April 9, merely as a conscientious citizen to express his solidarity. They claimed that when Anand sensed that police action could potentially escalate tensions, he appealed to the people to continue their sit-in peacefully and administered an oath to ensure that the movement would remain non-violent.

Factory workers during a protest demanding a hike in wages, in Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, Monday, April 13, 2026. Photo: PTI

The family said that up until April 10 and 11 – when Aditya and Rupesh Roy were present at the protest site – no violence had occurred. According to them, the situation deteriorated only after their arrest.They alleged that Anand was physically assaulted after being brought to Uttar Pradesh. According to their account, the beating began the moment he was seated in the vehicle, and subsequently, he was taken to an undisclosed location where he was beaten for hours by multiple individuals. These allegations could not be independently verified.

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