The man accused of inciting violence during Arrests were made at labor protests in Noida earlier this month, police said on Saturday.
Aditya Anand was arrested at Tiruchirappalli railway station in a joint effort by the Gautam Buddh Nagar police and the special task force.
They tracked him down to Tamil Nadu days after the escape, news agency PTI reported. He was carrying a reward $1 lakh. A non-bailable warrant was earlier issued against him by a local court in Gautam Budh Nagar.
Anand was the one behind the violence that broke out during the peaceful demonstration Workers protest in industrial areas in Noida, police say. Officials said he is a software engineer at NIT and is suspected of planning and coordinating the activities that led to the escalation of the protest. He is now detained at the second phase police station.
Noida workers protest
Earlier this week, thousands Factory workers gathered in Noida to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Most of the workers were contract workers working in small industrial units producing auto parts, electronics and clothing.
He earns a lot between $10000 and $15,000 per month for 8 to 12 hours and have long complained of low wages and poor conditions. They were demanding payment $20,000 per month.
The protests were linked to the recent decision taken by the Haryana government to increase the minimum wage by about 35%.
What started as largely peaceful demonstrations quickly escalated. Security forces used tear gas and charged people to disperse the crowds. Female workers attending the demonstrations told news agency ANI that The police used excessive force, including beating women.
300 suspended
The situation became volatile in areas like Phase II and Sector 63. Some allegedly set vehicles on fire and pelted stones.
Police said more than 300 people were detained under preventive measures on charges of arson and vandalism, while more than 100 others were detained for questioning.
Investigators said Anand played a role in mobilizing people and spreading provocative content. Police are also examining the use of social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Instagram, where chat groups were reportedly created overnight to organize protests.
Police teams carried out raids in multiple states before locating Anand in Tamil Nadu. He is now being interrogated to identify others involved and determine if there are any other links behind the mobilization.
The Ministry of Labor is taking strict measures
The Labor Department launched a crackdown in Noida’s industrial areas in the wake of the agitation. Notices have been issued to 203 contractors in 24 payment plants $1,16,05,067 for workers.
Contractors’ licenses were revoked for alleged violations of labor laws. This includes failure to pay the minimum wage and failure to ensure workplace safety.
(With inputs from PTI)
