NEW DELHI
A formal complaint was filed with national human rights and child protection groups over the alleged illegal detention of over 1,000 people in Noida.
The plea claims that Uttar Pradesh Police committed serious constitutional violations following recent protests by factory workers and migrant laborers who were demanding better monthly wages.
Advocate Subhash Chandran K.R. moved the petition after reports surfaced that nearly 350 juveniles were among those swept up in a massive police crackdown. The workers had been protesting since early April, seeking an increase in their small salaries to keep up with the rising costs of food and housing. While some violence occurred during the protests, the complaint argues that the police response was “excessive and indiscriminate,” targeting innocent bystanders, shoppers, and children.
The petition alleges that many workers were snatched directly from their factories or workplaces without their families being informed. Furthermore, it claims that many were held longer than the legal 24-hour limit without seeing a judge, a direct violation of constitutional rights. There are also worrying reports that vulnerable families were tricked into paying large sums of money under the false promise of securing bail for their loved ones.
Now, the National Human Rights Commission and the child rights body are being urged to launch an immediate, independent inquiry. The plea calls for the release of all minors and demands that officials be held accountable to ensure that the rights of the poor and hardworking are protected.