Why a woman labor activist was arrested from Kundli industrial area?
On 12 January, Labor activist Nodeep Kaur was arrested, sent to Karnal Jail and booked under IPC 148,149, 307 and other sections of IPC. Since then Nodeep is in jail.

Here is the story. As farmer’s protest at the borders of Delhi enters the 57th day, lakhs of farmers are staying in thousands of makeshift tents. One tent among those marks a stark difference -- it houses industrial labourers protesting against non-payment of salaries.

A little known organisation Mazdoor Adhikar Sangthan (MAS) emerged at the protest site of farmers on December 6th, around 10 day, thys after the farmers reached the Singhu border, to echo the complaints of the workers of Kundli Industrial.

Initially, they reached the site with hopes that their pain too would be heard along with that of the  farmers. However, they have also voiced their  support for the farmers against the new agri laws and are ensuring the participation of laborers in farmer protest.

On 2nd of December, MAS brought 2,000 laborers to participate in the protests.  Farmers protest had started on 27 November, MAS set up tent on 6 december.  Since then MAS is fighting for rights of laborers.

Shiv Kumar, the President of MAS said: “We had set up tent to hear problems of laborers.  Workers who were or not being paid on time or were not paid at all started coming forward.”

We note down names, details of organization and the unpaid salary of laborers who come to us with their complaints. Then we send letter to the concerned organization to either pay the laborers or to face legal action.”  Shiva added,”

So far, we have helped 300 laborers to get their long pending dues. Some were not paid meager amounts of 8 thousand rupees while one laborer who worked on piece rate base was not paid 1.50 lakh rupees.”

Shiv claimed that if companies refuse to pay the laborers then they go to  protest outside companies.  While some companies started paying laborers, the others tried to show their power.”

Shiv, resident of  Dewru village of Sonipat,  operates the organization from rented room in in Prem Colony of Kundli village. These days Shiv is based at Singhu border protest site.

MAS is being seen as beacon of hope by laborers in Kundli area. A laborer told us how he received money with help of MAS and other explained how MAS is helping him.

Manish Yadav of UP’s Balia district was working in Kundli Industrial area, Sonipat. Manish claimed that he had earned 5 thousand rupees but factory paid him only 2 thousand rupees.

He got help from Mazdoor Adhikar Sanghthan and approached company for payment. Initially, Factory refused to accept that he was their worker. When he showed them his uniform and company’s card, then factory claimed that he was working with

“thekedar”(Contractor) After much struggle and help from MAS, I received the payment from company.”Another laborer named Pintu from UP’s Ita district  worked in Kundli based factory for a contractor who had not paid him wages of  10,500 rupees.

It has been 7 months since Pintu is trying to get payment for his work. Pintu said, ”I had gone to the contractor multiple times to get my payment but he kept extending dates. Whenever I visit him, he verbally assaults me.

Me and my mother visited the company’s owner, he said that if you work for contractor he will pay you. My wife is in 8th month of pregnancy, we have approached MAS to help us. Contractor had said that he will pay us, but till now he has not arrived yet to pay.”

But MAS’s work is challenging. Few days ago, It’s activists clashed with Haryana police and an activist was even arrested.
On 12  January, barely  100 meters from Singhu-Kundli border protest  site laborers  clashed with Haryana police over non-payment of

salaries. Police fired in air to disperse the laborers. A laborer named Deepak Chaurasia(Name Changed)  was not paid for his work from 1 to 11 November.  Activists from Mazdoor Adhikar Sangthan and laborers had gone to a company to demand payment where clash happened.

Police not only fired in air to disperse the laborers but also arrested a woman activist named Navdeep Kaur. Police has booked her under various sections and sent her to Karnal Jail.

Talking about 28th of December’s incident and 12th January’s incident, Activist and laborer Khushi said,  ”We had gone to demand the payment. Company owner refused to come out then Police lathicharged firing 17 times in air.

We are laborers how can we extort money from such a company? They have filed false cases of attempt to murder and extortion against member of our organization.”

Resident of Gandhar  village of Punjab’s Muktsar district, Navdeep is member of MAS. According to her sister Rajvir Kaur, who is PHD student at Delhi university,” Navdeep  was working in Kundli based factory. When protest started, she left the job to participate in the protest.

Then she started helping other laborers. We are going to Karnal Jail to provide her clothes.”Rajvir said, ”They have filed a case alleging  that she keeps 40 men with her to extort money. If they knew this then why women police officials were not there?”

Rajvir said that male police officials arrested her sister.
She added, ”As a family we have every right to get information SHO refused to provide us any information. We went in the middle of night to SP office Sonipat then only we were provided information.”

Laborers and activists are afraid that they too would be arrested and police may file false cases against them.
It’s not the first time that laborers clashed with police or security agency of company. 
Rest in second thread.

Shiv claimed that on 28th of December Kundli Industrial Association’s Quick response team and laborers had clashed and then Police had fired in air. Shiv called QRT KIA’s   “Gunda Group.”

Around 50 people had gone with our organization to demand payment of Deepak. Most of them are afraid that they will be booked.

According to Kundli SHO Ravi Kumar, ”These people have made labor organizations and they go to factories with Lathis. Yesterday, 70-80 people had surrounded a factory from all sides. We were unarmed but they started attacking us with lathis and tried to steal our weapons.

Our 5-6 policeman got injured. We have CCTV footage.” 
Ravi Kumar said that they have booked Navdeep under section 307 of IPC  and others will be arrested soon.

MAS President Shiv and other members of the organization are afraid that they will be arrested soon. On 15th of January, MAS has planned to protest outside SDM office in Sonipat against arrest of Navdeep Kaur.

I had written this story on 13 January but posted now.
Here is copy of FIR which has been filed against Nodeep.

Nodeep’s sister visited jail to provide her clothes and other essential items.
Clicked on 13 January.