Bail offers cold comfort, Noida workers face debt, fear: ‘What if police pick him up again?’

Four Noida workers, arrested over their alleged involvement in labor protests, are now facing the burden of paying bail money, court visits and jail meetings. Struggling to make ends meet, their families have spent significant amounts on their loved ones' legal defense, leaving them anxious about their future. One 34-year-old daily wage worker was picked up while looking for work in April, spending 40 days in Kasna jail before being released on bail.

His family, migrant workers from Bihar, visited him frequently and even gave up their room to accommodate the children. They are now worried about the possibility of police picking him up again while they are out.

A 19-year-old recent high school graduate stepped out for a meal on April 14 and was arrested with three others on charges such as rioting and criminal conspiracy. His family, landless farmers from UP, has been ringing him six times a day for bail updates since his release on May 18. The 19-year-old admits that that "poori-sabzi" ended up costing him dearly.

Another case involves two young men, aged 20 and 18, from Sitamarhi in Bihar. Picked up on April 14, they faced charges including attempt to murder, rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, and causing damage to property. Their families spent nearly Rs 3 lakh to secure their release, with one man released after two days and the other waiting for two more days to be set free.

The 18-year-old, who was released first, said he was sleeping on the floor in jail and feeling overwhelmed upon returning home. His mother admits that she struggles to sleep at night due to the constant worry about her sons.