Six held for ‘plotting violence’ during IMT Manesar wage protests

Police cite WhatsApp chats as evidence of conspiracy; accused were not linked to firms, probe on to trace wider network behind unrest.

Published on: Apr 14, 2026, 06:53:19 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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At least six people were arrested on Monday for allegedly orchestrating rioting, vandalism, and arson, days after police said it had found evidence that some suspects were planning to use the wage hike protests at IMT Manesar to incite large-scale violence.All six, it said, had no connection to any of the companies in the area.

Accused allegedly used worker groups to provoke clashes; all unemployed and not tied to companies involved in protests. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

Police had earlier said that some members of WhatsApp groups of workers approached them after law and order was restored in Manesar on Thursday, sharing screenshots of conversations allegedly discussing plans to incite violence during the protest.

On Monday, deputy commissioner of police (West) Karan Goyal said, “The role of external miscreants in instigating violence has come to light during the investigation. Digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats, indicates a premeditated conspiracy to incite arson, vandalism and serious harm.”

He added, “We appeal to workers not to fall prey to provocations by outsiders. If any such attempt to disturb law and order is noticed, it must be reported to the police immediately.”

Police have identified the accused as Akash Kumar (Rohtak), Harish Chand (Uttarakhand), Pintu Kumar Yadav (Bihar), Raju Singh (Uttarakhand), Shyambir (Uttar Pradesh), and Ajit Singh (Haryana). None of them were employees of the companies where the violence took place, police said, all of them are presently unemployed.

“These individuals had no direct connection with the companies and acted as external elements who deliberately provoked workers to escalate the protest into violence,” said Goyal.

Officials said further investigation is underway to identify other individuals involved in the conspiracy and to establish the full extent of the network behind the violence. “Strict action will be taken against anyone found involved in instigating or participating in such unlawful activities,” police said.

The IMT Manesar protests, involving workers from several industrial units, have been marked by demands related to labour conditions and employment issues. On Thursday, protests over wage demands escalated into violence.

55 people, identified through analysis of CCTV camera footage, had been arrested on Friday for attacking police and for arson during the violence on April 9.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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