Detentions in Uttar Pradesh after labour protests draw scrutiny from civil society

By A Representative 

A group of trade union activists and workers have been arrested following protests over wages, job security and working conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh, with police booking several individuals on serious charges including rioting, arson, conspiracy and attempt to murder. Authorities have not yet issued a detailed public statement on the specific incidents leading to the arrests, but officials indicated that action was taken in connection with alleged violence during demonstrations in the Noida region.

Among those named in the cases are activists linked to the Inquilabi Mazdoor Kendra—identified as Shyamveer, Ajit, Pintu Yadav, Harish, Raju and Akash—along with social activist Niranjan Lal. Separately, concerns have also been raised over the detention of journalist Satyam Varma after raids at Janchetna Bookstore in Lucknow, where poet Katyayani and artist Ram Babu were also reportedly questioned or detained.

Police sources maintain that investigations are ongoing and that arrests were made based on evidence related to public disorder and damage to property during the protests. They have also sought to identify individuals allegedly involved in organising or instigating unrest, describing the probe as necessary to maintain law and order.

However, civil liberties groups and labour advocates have disputed this characterization, arguing that the protests were driven by long-standing grievances over low wages, insecure employment and unsafe workplaces, particularly among informal and contract workers. They have expressed concern that some detainees are being portrayed as key conspirators in what they describe as a broader attempt to frame the demonstrations as premeditated violence rather than a labour movement.

Reports have also emerged from families claiming that some workers who participated in the protests remain unaccounted for, with allegations that police have not provided clear information about their whereabouts. Officials have not publicly responded to these specific claims.

In a statement, the Campaign Against State Repression criticised the arrests and alleged a pattern of targeting trade union and social activists, while calling for the release of those detained, disclosure of missing persons and withdrawal of what it described as fabricated charges. The organisation’s statement reflects wider concerns among sections of civil society, though authorities have not commented directly on these allegations.

The developments come amid heightened tensions around labour issues in industrial clusters, where disputes over wages and working conditions have periodically led to protests. Investigations into the recent incidents are continuing.