Activists Akriti, Satyam Verma face NSA in Noida protest case: PUCL

By A Representative 

Human rights activist Kavita Shrivastava has alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Police is invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against two activists associated with Mazdoor Bigul in connection with the Noida workers’ protest case, even as labour unrest continues to spread across industrial belts in several northern states.

In a statement, Shrivastava said the parents of Akriti, who has been in detention for more than a month, received a call from the Gautam Budh Nagar Police informing them that the NSA had been invoked against Akriti and Satyam Verma. According to Shrivastava, the police told the family that the required papers had been signed by the competent authorities and would be submitted before the court.

She further claimed that police officials were also attempting to contact the relatives of Verma, who is associated with Jan Chetna in Lucknow, to inform them about the development. Shrivastava said it was not yet known whether other activists and workers linked to the protests would also face action under the NSA.

Shrivastava urged the Uttar Pradesh Home Department and the Gautam Budh Nagar district administration to clarify whether such proceedings were underway.

The allegations come amid continuing labour unrest in industrial clusters across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Punjab. A press note circulated by labour groups claimed that strike actions had spread to dozens of industrial locations in Noida, Faridabad, Bhiwadi-Neemrana, Rudrapur, Haridwar, Lucknow and other manufacturing centres between April and May. The note alleged that up to 13 April alone, strikes took place at 78 locations in Noida involving tens of thousands of workers, and that fresh protests and work stoppages continued in multiple industrial areas after that date despite what organisers described as “brutal repression” in Manesar and Noida.

The press note, citing ground reports and social media accounts, claimed that workers in automobile, electronics, pharmaceutical, engineering, consumer goods and security services sectors participated in the protests. The list released by organisers was described as non-exhaustive.

Akriti, a postgraduate in History from University of Delhi and a theatre artist associated with the Progressive Artists League and Mazdoor Bigul, has been described by supporters as active in street theatre, workshops for underprivileged children and campaigns on education and social issues. Supporters allege that she was arrested for participating in demonstrations held in solidarity with workers in Noida.

Verma, described by supporters as a journalist, editor and translator, has worked with UNIvarta and edited works related to revolutionary leader Bhagat Singh. Supporters have claimed that he had no direct connection with the Noida protests and termed the action against him an attempt to suppress dissent.

There was no immediate official statement available from the Uttar Pradesh Police or the Gautam Budh Nagar administration regarding the allegations or the reported invocation of the NSA.