M for mafia

Lawlessness in Mumbai has provoked businessmen and traders in the city to threaten to withhold taxes and raise their own police force if ...

Lawlessness in Mumbai has provoked businessmen and traders in the city to threaten to withhold taxes and raise their own police force if the situation does not improve over the next three months.

It is an extraordinary reaction from a conservative community which prefers to avoid political unpleasantness and to find “pragmatic” solutions to its problems. Evidently, a high threshold of tolerance has been crossed.

Extortionists are exacting a heavy price from the city and getting away with it. Hitherto the real estate sector was

the chief target but with the fall in business, other economic sectors have come within the sights of the mafia one after the other.

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After Bollywood and the entertainment industry, medium-sized businesses and trade have received its malign attention. Furthermore, according to reports, matters are deteriorating to the point where high-spenders could run the risk of a threatening phone call. Extortion threats and the contraction of business would represent a double blow tobusinessmen.

Extortion killings, gangland wars and quarrels settled with the gun have produced an all-time record number of shootouts in the city. Under pressure to do something about violent crime, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi does not have much more to offer than the vague comfort of new legislation.

It is wrong to assume the situation can be improved with legislation that is more draconian than the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. Mumbai does not need more laws. There is enough in the provisions of the IPC, CrPC and Police Act to enable a crackdown on violent crime. What Mumbai needs urgently is law enforcement.

To do what needs to be done Joshi must adopt a tough agenda. He must find the political will to implement existing laws and uphold the legal process. This has to begin with action against those in authority who vitiate the whole atmosphere by thumbing their noses at the law and cohabiting with the mafia and who justify extra-legal action by the police.

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When politiciansdo not show respect for the law, it becomes harder for the forces of law and order to do their duty, and easier for criminals to strike with impunity, exactly what is being witnessed in Mumbai today.

Secondly, interference with the police must be stopped. As the Srikrishna report has shown, the police force suffers from a high level of politicisation. Corruption is widespread. The message must be that the police is expected to carry out its duties impartially and without fear or favour.

Third, force levels need to be strengthened to deal with mafia-related crime. At present, the crime branch whose responsibility this is, is grossly undermanned, lacking in special skills. Police equipment needs to be upgraded.

Unless such tough-minded and specific measures are taken, there will be no change on the ground. Brave words are not enough. The mafia has to be combated at all levels.