LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force has arrested Aditya Anand, the main accused in the Noida labour unrest case, from Tamil Nadu after a multi-state search operation. Anand had been on the run since the situation normalised, even as multiple teams of Noida Police were trying to trace him.
According to police sources, Anand, along with two others—Rupesh Rai and Manisha — allegedly instigated workers and played a key role in triggering the unrest by creating multiple WhatsApp groups on April 9 and 10 to mobilise workers.
A case had been registered against Anand at the Phase-2 police station in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, and a local court had issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him.
Police officials said the unrest was not spontaneous but pre-planned. During the investigation, they also found indications of a possible international link, with leads pointing towards Pakistan. Officials said two social media handles on X (formerly Twitter)—@Proudindiannavi and @Mir_Ilyas_INC—were allegedly operated from Pakistan and were active during the period of unrest.
Anand, on whom a reward of `1 lakh had been announced, was arrested from a railway station in Tiruchirappalli. Police teams used technical surveillance and conducted raids in several states before tracking him down.
Anand is a BTech graduate from the National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur. He was present in Noida during the unrest and allegedly created WhatsApp groups using QR codes to mobilise workers. Police also alleged that he delivered provocative speeches to incite violence.
According to Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh, misleading and inflammatory content was circulated through social media accounts to disturb law and order during the protests, which turned violent on April 13, with incidents of stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson.
She said the accounts were operated using VPNs to conceal identities. So far, 63 accused persons have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Investigators said the network had been active for nearly three months, with some IP addresses linked to Pakistan. Authorities are now examining back-end data to trace the full extent of the alleged digital conspiracy.
Police sources said Anand, along with Rupesh Rai and Manisha, was active in Noida on March 31 and April 1. Between April 9 and 10, they allegedly created several WhatsApp groups and urged workers to protest and damage property.