ATS set to join probe into X handles that ‘incited violence’

Noida:Police commissioner Laxmi Singh said technical inputs received from X showed that at least two of the handles were being operated continuously from Pakistan. “Their internet connectivity, IP addresses and activity patterns indicate a foreign origin. VPNs were also used to mask identity,” she added.Police are also examining the role of a group called ‘Mazdoor Bigul Dasta’, whose members allegedly mobilised workers and provoked violence. Police said Rupesh Rai, Manisha Chauhan and Aditya Anand created multiple WhatsApp groups through QR codes around 2am on April 10, shortly after Haryana govt announced a 35% rise in minimum wages. Each group allegedly had more than 800 members, including workers from major industrial units such as Motherson and Richa Industries. Officials suspect these groups were used to rapidly circulate messages and draw workers into the agitation. The role of Rai and Manisha, as well as others, is under scrutiny.So far, 13 FIRs have been lodged in total and 1,140 people sent to jail across the commissionerate’s three zones. Of them, 70 have been identified as active rioters allegedly involved in vandalism and disruption. The rest were detained from the spot for breach of peace.Additional commissioner of police Rajeev Narayan Mishra said CCTV footage is being analysed to fix individual roles. “Anyone found involved in arson, vandalism or instigation is being added to the main cases,” he added.The city, police said, has remained peaceful for the past two days, with flag marches and heavy patrolling helping restore order. Industrial units have also resumed operations, aided by UP govt’s decision to raise wages by 21%.