Ahmedabad shopkeepers protest against extortionists

A representation of traders of Relief Road and Gandhi Road met the city commissioner of police to complain against the menace of extortionists in their area. One person was brutally beaten by a group of goons on Friday allegedly for not paying extortion money.

Manish John, a resident of Khadia area, heads a gang of extortionists and collects the money from traders in the area, failing which the latter are allegedly beaten. 

“A representation came to me, and I told them to file an official complaint so that police can take relevant action,” police commissioner Sudhir Sinha told DNA. “They have so far not filed any complaint as they are scared of the goons,” he added.

Talking to DNA the vice-president of Gandhi Road Traders Association, Jagdish Khalsa said that the goons of the area have harassed the traders for many years. “We have tried to raise a voice against them by forming the associations etc, but so far nothing concrete has been done against them,” he said.

Khalsa's brother, Surinder was brutally beaten by John, Viju Sindhi and Liliyo Nandubhai. “The three wanted money from my brother and when he refused to it give to them, he was beaten,” said Khalsa. Another gang in the area shot Jagdish in the arm in 1998 when he refused to give extortion money. Jagdish also alleged the existence of a nexus between local politicians, police and some people in influential positions.

However, he refused to reveal any names. “Whenever we raise our voice, these goons are either sent to PASA or are externed for some time, but they eventually return and start harassing us all over again,” he said.