QR Codes And WhatsApp Groups: How Noida Protests Were Planned Overnight

The violent protests in Noida over wages on Monday - that have entered their second day - were planned overnight on WhatsApp groups, the probe revealed. According to the investigation, the protesters were added to WhatsApp groups via QR codes on Sunday late at night, and messages were sent across different labour unions. Officials found multiple such groups on the messaging platform with different names, of which one was named 'Workers' Movement'. Inflammatory, inciting content and messages were circulated in the groups to intensify the protests, officials said. The protests - triggered by the Haryana government's decision to hike the minimum pay - quickly snowballed into a day of chaos, with over 40,000 factory workers facing off against security officials, key roads choked with traffic, and heightened security. The demonstrations were triggered by the Haryana government's decision to hike the minimum pay. They took a violent turn when the protesters set vehicles and properties on fire, and threw stones during an altercation with the police in Noida's Phase-2 and Sector 63.