Noida – Police in the Indian capital region’s suburb of Noida deployed tear gas shells and applied minimum force on Monday to disperse factory workers whose four-day protest escalated into violence, with vehicles set ablaze and stones hurled in sections of the sprawling industrial satellite city.
Noida ranks among Asia’s largest planned industrial townships, hosting thousands of manufacturing facilities.
Global living expenses have climbed sharply following disruptions to fuel supplies stemming from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Comparable demonstrations last week in the neighboring auto-manufacturing state of Haryana prompted authorities to mandate a 35% increase in minimum wages.
Vinay Mahoti, a 30-year-old worker from the eastern state of Bihar employed at a hosiery firm in Noida, explained that he first joined the action within his own factory before uniting with colleagues from other plants on the streets.
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“Duty hours should be fixed, overtime hours should be paid, and companies should adhere to the guidelines laid by the federal government,” he stated while outlining the protesters’ key demands.
Footage distributed by news agency ANI, in which Reuters holds a minority stake, captured groups of demonstrators marching along roads while chanting slogans, as police officers in riot gear stood watch. Additional images depicted an overturned vehicle engulfed in flames, along with protesters throwing stones and attempting to breach security barricades.
Authorities reported employing “minimum force” to restore order. Narendra Kashyap, a legislator from Uttar Pradesh state which encompasses Noida urged the workers to engage in dialogue with the government regarding their grievances.
“Senior police and administrative officials are making persistent efforts to counsel the workers and urge them to maintain peace and restraint,” the Gautam Budh Nagar police department noted in an official statement.
The unrest highlights mounting worker frustration amid elevated living costs triggered by international supply chain strains. Similar wage-related tensions in nearby industrial zones have already led to policy adjustments by state governments.
No immediate reports emerged on injuries or arrests from Monday’s clashes. Officials continued outreach efforts to de-escalate the situation and facilitate negotiations.