New Delhi, May 20 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned how a protest planned by workers in Noida turned violent last month even as it directed that the two labour activists arrested by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police in connection with the violence be kept in judicial custody. It also sought responses from the UP government and the Centre on a plea by a journalist seeking an independent enquiry into the role of the UP Police during the protests.

The court passed the order after interacting with the two activists, Ayush Anand and Rupesh Roy, who alleged brutal torture in police custody and expressed apprehension about similar treatment by the Haryana Police, which has already obtained permission from a trial court to seek Anand's cust...