Noida: Days after two arrested labour activists filed a submission in Supreme Court alleging posts to incite protesters during the April 13 industrial workers’ protest that turned violent were actually made by a DCP’s driver and a sub-inspector, the driver has been taken into custody. Police, however, said the accused, Anil Kumar (32), had no connection with any police officer in Noida, nor does he work in the city.Additional DCP (Central Noida) Swatantra Singh, who is heading the SIT probing the April 13 violence, told TOI that Kumar is in the contractual employ of an official with a central govt agency in Delhi. On Thursday, he was arrested at his home in the Phase 2 area behind Motherson’s factory under BNS sections 109(1) (attempt to murder), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) and 326(G) (mischief).“Police investigation revealed that two years ago, he was working with Richa Global Exports, a garment manufacturer operating out of Hosiery Complex in Phase 2, as a labourer. He was added to a WhatsApp group, Richa Global Noida, three to four days before the protest,” the additional DCP said.In its FIR, police named ‘Richa Global Noida’ among the eight WhatsApp and Telegram groups that were allegedly used to circulate messages encouraging the labour agitation.The Supreme Court submission filed earlier this week by counsels Manik Gupta and Puja Sharma, in response to the state affidavit detailing the investigation into the April 13 protest, arson and vandalism, had identified sub-inspector Beena, posted in Sector 142, and Anil Kumar as the two persons who “infiltrated” the ‘Richa Global Noida’ WhatsApp group to foment trouble.The counsels had submitted that Kumar had shared a voice message to block a road and posted it on the WhatsApp group. The message said: “Modi aa raha hai bypass ka udghatan karne, kal pura road jam karna chahiye” (Modi is coming to inaugurate the bypass, we must jam the entire road).” The submission contended that other members in ‘Richa Global Noida’ — which had 1,024 members, mostly workers — had immediately protested, with a request not to share any videos of vandalism in the group.SI Beena, the counsels submitted, had shared a screenshot of a burning car.“Gautam Budh Nagar police did not add Kumar to any WhatsApp group. It has been revealed that a person linked to these miscreant (WhatsApp) groups added Kumar to the group. We have found some evidence related to his instigating messages, and further investigation is under way,” police said in a statement.A senior police officer said the counsels for the accused have claimed that Kumar is a driver of DCP Vijay Gupta, but there is no officer by that name in the force. The SIT probe found that on April 13, when the violence occurred, Anil was posting messages and videos on the WhatsApp group from Delhi.Sources, however, did not deny sub-inspector Beena’s presence on the WhatsApp group used to mobilise workers, saying she had been ‘placed’ there an hour after the violence was over to gather intel.“Beena noticed that no one was posting anything in the group. In another WhatsApp group, a person claimed responsibility for setting fire to five vehicles and was subsequently arrested. Beena then used the same tactic. A video of burning vehicles had been posted to the group by a member that morning. Beena took a screenshot and reposted it, hoping someone would claim responsibility for the arson. We have sufficient evidence to establish that Beena was an undercover intelligence operative. The information she shared helped police handle the protesters effectively,” an officer said.The factory workers’ protest began on April 10 in the Phase 2 area after the Haryana govt raised wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers by 35%. For three days, the demonstration remained peaceful, but turned violent on April 13. More than 100 factories were vandalised and vehicles torched across the district. Police subsequently registered over a dozen FIRs at Phase 2, Sector 63 and other stations, arresting more than 50 people for alleged roles in inciting the violence. Two of the arrested activists — Satyam Verma, a Lucknow-based translator and journalist who writes for the periodical ‘Mazdoor Bigul’, and DU history graduate Aakriti Choudhary — have also been charged under National Security Act.A statement issued by Campaign for Release of Workers and Activists of Noida (CaRWAN) on Friday said, “How long has it taken UP Police to act against Anil Kumar? Evidence against him has been in the public domain for over a month. Only a high-level judicial inquiry can ascertain the truth in this case.”
