Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Gangs demanding protection money: Madhavaram industries

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI, APRIL 21. For manufacturers who have put up units at the TALCO industrial estate, Madhavaram, on the city's outskirts, it is a matter of personal safety and protection of their property. Frequently threatened by protection money (`mamool') seekers, a daring assault on employees and damage to property by some persons a few days ago for non-closure of the units has come as a jolt to entrepreneurs. Three persons were injured in the attack, they say.

Say the president of the Madhavaram (TALCO) Manufacturer's Association, N. Theagrajan, and the Secretary, B. Purushothaman, "We have decided not to give `mamool' hereafter. In the event of our being pushed to the verge of having to part with money, we will close down our units".

A few employees and owners of leather industrial units and association office-bearers say that the threats posed by anti-social elements have taken a serious turn of late. On April 16, some persons demanded that all units be closed for the day "to pay homage to a person." As leather processing is a continuous process and cannot be stopped abruptly, the police were informed and they arrived. Later, when the police were not present, a group came to the association office and reiterated its demand. The association manager tried to reason with them, but they left after issuing a threat. In the afternoon, some persons threw stones at the glass panes of industrial units and damaged other property there. Three persons — Amanullah, a supervisor, and his unit owner, Aleem Ahmed, and one Thirumal Rao, a technician in another unit — were attacked. They were treated in a private hospital at Erukkenchery. Panicked, almost all the units downed the shutters. A complaint has been lodged with the police.

Mr. Theagrajan says gangs frequently demand money from employees and unit owners under different pretexts — "death in the neighbourhood", "sports function" and "temple festival" and threaten them. Unit owners are sore that the police are not only not quick in their action, but also do not take preventive measures.

The Superintendent of Police, Chengalpattu-East, K. Shankar, when contacted, said the incident was only "an isolated one". There was no need for panic. Two persons were arrested and a search was on for another.

The police said no oral or written complaint was received by the station or the Deputy Superintendent of Police on "mamool collection by gangs" prior to the latest incident. Action would be taken whenever a complaint was received.

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