Indian activists allege illegal abductions after labor protest
Civil society groups accuse Uttar Pradesh police of raids, custodial abuse and targeting activists following labor protest violence near New Delhi
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Civil society groups in India have accused police in the country’s largest state of carrying out illegal abductions, raids and custodial abuse targeting activists, lawyers and academics following a labor protest that turned violent near the capital.
According to Maktoob Media, activists and legal representatives said members of the Uttar Pradesh Police, including its Special Task Force, conducted operations across New Delhi without warrants, raising concerns over jurisdiction and due process.
The allegations stem from a protest by factory workers in Noida, an industrial hub bordering New Delhi, where employees demanding higher wages clashed with police earlier this month. Authorities have accused protest organizers of orchestrating violence, while activists claim police used excessive force and later launched a crackdown to silence dissent.
Several activists said they were taken from homes in New Delhi by plainclothes officers, held for hours without formal arrest procedures and subjected to interrogation without legal safeguards. Some described being transported in unmarked vehicles, with personal devices seized and no documentation provided.
One activist alleged she was detained for hours and threatened, including remarks referencing her Muslim identity. Others said police entered private residences without warrants, confiscated belongings and carried out late-night interrogations.
Lawyers representing those detained have filed complaints accusing police of custodial violence, fabrication of evidence and wrongful arrests. In one case, the family of an arrested activist alleged he was beaten in custody and falsely portrayed as a central figure in the unrest.
Activists also questioned how police from Uttar Pradesh conducted operations inside New Delhi, a separate jurisdiction, without coordination with local authorities—raising legal concerns about federal overreach and constitutional protections.
Authorities have not publicly addressed the allegations in detail, but have maintained that the investigation is ongoing and linked to the violence during the protest, which saw vehicles set on fire and clashes between workers and police.
Analysts say the case reflects a broader pattern in India where protest movements—particularly those linked to labor rights—are increasingly met with aggressive policing, legal pressure and sweeping investigations targeting organizers and supporters.
The incident has intensified concerns among rights advocates about the use of police powers to suppress dissent, particularly when operations extend beyond state boundaries and involve alleged violations of arrest procedures and legal safeguards.
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