Hyderabad: Students and activists staged a protest at Sundarayya Park on Wednesday, demanding the release of workers and activists arrested in connection with the April 2026 labour movement in Noida.
The Campaign for Release of Workers and Activists of Noida (CaRWAN) alleged that Uttar Pradesh Police had registered 11 FIRs in connection with the protests and misused the National Security Act (NSA), contributing to the prolonged incarceration of activists.
Holding placards and raising slogans, protesters condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate release of those detained.
Sreeja, a representative of CaRWAN, said thousands of workers had taken to the streets in April seeking better wages and living conditions.
She alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government responded with repression because the movement conflicted with its plans to promote Noida as an investment hub.
Those arrested included Aakriti Chaudhary, a PhD aspirant; Srishti, an artist; Rupesh, an autorickshaw driver; Manisha, a factory worker; Aditya, a software engineer; Himanshu and Yogesh, students; and Satyam, a journalist.
Sreeja alleged that although activists had consistently appealed for peaceful demonstrations, individuals linked to the police, including a sub-inspector, circulated provocative messages in workers’ groups.
Another speaker, Bhargavi, alleged custodial torture and fabrication of evidence by the police.
She said the NSA had been invoked against Aakriti and Satyam.
The protesters cited the Allahabad High Court’s September 2 order quashing the detention of Aakriti Chaudhary under the NSA.
The court had described the state’s account as a “concocted story” unsupported by evidence.
CaRWAN alleged that multiple FIRs, procedural delays and mounting legal expenses had made securing bail difficult, effectively turning the legal process into punishment.
The organisers said their protests would continue until all the arrested workers and activists were released.
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