Days after the Noida protest violence and arrest of various protestors, Delhi University law student, currently lodged in Luskar Jail in Kasna,, was allegedly prevented from appearing for his semester examinations, reportedly despite a court order permitting him to do so.
Yogesh Meena aged 23, a student of the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, was apprehended in connection with the case related to Noida protest. However, later, an application was moved before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Guatam Budh Nagar to seek permission to allow Meena to take his ongoing LLB semester examinations and access study materials, textbooks, and other study materials while in custody, FoEJ Media has learnt.
As per the press release shared by Campaign for the Release of Workers and Activists of Noida (CaRWAN), the court granted permission for Meena’s appearance in the scheduled exam from June 5 and June 11. However, despite the judicial order, authorities failed to produce him at the examination center on Friday, resulting in his failure to appear for the exam.
Meena was arrested during the Noida protest by factory workers demanding a hike in wages, which soon turned violent, leading to the burning of cars and blocking of roads in several parts of the city.
arrested under Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 109(1) (attempt to murder), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), and 326(g) (mischief by fire or explosive substance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).”
Initiated by a 35% wage hike in neighboring Haryana, protesting workers demanded higher pay and better working conditions and said that current wages were insufficient for rising living costs.
According to officials, a large number of workers from various industrial units gathered to protest for a raise in salary, chanting slogans during the protest. However, it soon turned violent as some protestors allegedly vandalized property and set a vehicle ablaze. Shortly after this, a heavy police deployment was made at the site, bringing the situation under control.
Later on April 16, the government said authorities identified 17 individuals in arson cases and arrested 11 of them, of whom eight are not workers.
Officials also identified 32 individuals for incitement and have arrested 19 so far. In addition, police apprehended 34 people who are not workers for their alleged participation in the protest. Authorities also arrested four individuals in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the unrest.
The government said women from different states actively participated in the protest and assisted those involved in violent activities. Officials added that factories continue to function normally and said both workers and industry stakeholders are cooperating with authorities.
Officials said unidentified individuals added workers to multiple WhatsApp groups late on
Sunday using QR codes, allowing messages to spread rapidly across labour networks. Several groups, including one titled Workers’ Movement, circulated content that authorities described as inflammatory and aimed at escalating tensions.
