Factories reopen in Noida’s industry hub under heavy police watch

Noida: Industrial activity returned to normal on Thursday under heavy police deployment, as the district emerged from days of worker unrest over higher wages. Provincial Armed Constabulary units patrolled the industrial pockets even as cops were deployed outside major units.Additional CP Rajeev Narayan Mishra said all factories operated smoothly, with no reports of disruption or violence. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and keeping a strict watch on people involved in protests earlier, he added.However, isolated incidents of protests were reported from Sector 59. Police shut the gates of the Spark Minda factory around 8.50 am after a group of workers gathered outside in what authorities suspected could be a protest.

Three workers were taken into custody and released later in the evening.Near Sector 51 metro station, a group of sanitation workers had assembled but were persuaded to disperse peacefully, police said.

Officials told TOI that strict vigilance will continue across the city, and any attempt to disrupt normalcy would be dealt with firmly. Beyond the district’s existing force of around 5,000, 15 companies of PAC and one company of the Rapid Action Force have been stationed across zones.

Two DIG-rank officers, five SPs, 15 additional DCPs, 40 ACPs, 52 inspectors, 200 sub-inspectors, and around 2,000 constables drawn from neighbouring districts would continue to patrol the roads over the next three days, officials said.

Investigators said they were reviewing thousands of video clips from CCTV cameras, including footage collected under the Operation Trinetra surveillance network, along with factory recordings and social media material, to identify those involved in the earlier violence.

Factory managements were also assisting police in distinguishing regular workers from outsiders, who may have participated in the unrest.So far, police have arrested 500 people in connection with violence during Monday’s labour protests in which mobs vandalised property and torched cars. Thirteen FIRs have been filed at different police stations under BNS sections that include rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, assault or use of criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation, common intention and wrongful restraint.