Uttar Pradesh police invoke NSA against two accused held during workers’ protest in Noida

The Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) invoked the National Security Act, 1980 against two activists held in connection with the Noida workers’ protest. Satyam Verma and Aakriti Choudhary are among the seven activists arrested by the UP police in various cases filed by the police. The Commissioner of Police, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Laxmi Singh, told The Hindu on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) that the police has “strong electronic and videographic evidence” against these two as well as 65 others who have been arrested in connection with these cases so far.

“In connection with the case, NSA action has been taken against Satyam Verma and Aakriti. Both are active members of the Mazdoor Bigul Dasta. Their roles were found to be significant in the violence, arson and spread of disorder during the workers’ protest. They attempted to disrupt public order by provoking people in various areas,” the official statement from the Commissioner of Police, Gautam Buddh Nagar, said.

The NSA enables the detention of an individual for up to a year without trial.

The workers’ protest ongoing in various parts of the country since the beginning of this year spread to Noida in early April when thousands of workers took to streets to put forth their demands of wage hike and improved working conditions. On April 13, incidents of vehicle burning, trespassing and stone pelting were reported in a few places, following which police lathicharged on workers and detained hundreds of workers and seven activists involved in the protest.