Police Fire Tear Gas at Noida Workers Demanding Higher Wages

Police in the Indian capital‍‍`s suburb of Noida deployed tear gas shells on Monday to suppress a factory workers‍‍` protest that escalated into violence, Reuters reported. The unrest, which has entered its fourth day, saw vehicles torched and stones pelted at security forces as laborers demanded higher wages to combat surging living costs.

According to a statement from the Gautam Budh Nagar police, authorities utilized minimum force to maintain public order. The protests come as global inflation and rising fuel prices—triggered by the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran—squeeze the budgets of industrial workers across the region. Local administrative officials are currently attempting to counsel the protesters and restore calm to one of Asia‍‍`s largest planned industrial townships.

Narendra Kashyap, a lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh, has publicly urged the workers to engage in dialogue with the government rather than continuing the street clashes. The tension in Noida follows a similar labor movement in the neighboring state of Haryana, where the regional government recently mandated a 35 percent increase in minimum wages for car manufacturing units.

Protesters like Vinay Mahoti, a 30-year-old worker originally from Bihar, emphasized that the movement is focused on fixed duty hours and proper compensation for overtime. While the industrial hub of Noida remains heavily guarded by security personnel in anti-riot gear, the timeline for a formal agreement between the laborers and manufacturing units remains uncertain. For now, the heavy police presence continues as officials seek to prevent further damage to industrial property.