How Organised Crime Is Carving Up Capital
New Delhi: Delhi's underworld is home to a multitude of notorious gangs — 95, to be specific — as the Centre informed Supreme Court on Thursday. TOI reported about it. The statistics are chilling for a metropolis like Delhi whose gang landscape has evolved over the years, transforming from yesteryear groups like the Kishan Pehalwan and Anoop-Balraj gangs of Najfagarh to newer entities such as the Bishnoi and Sangwan gangs, forming a complex network of organised crime being controlled remotely from foreign countries.
The capital now has a complex underbelly characterised by the presence of various notorious gangs which are engaged in a range of illicit activities that put them at odds with law enforcement and with each other. Resultantly, the city often witnesses turf wars, extortion rackets and murders.
A pertinent question that arises is: Why does Delhi have such a large number of gangs? Investigators who have watched the Delhi's underworld over the years attribute it to a number of factors ranging from Delhi's topography, proximity to states like Haryana and UP and a large migrant population in Jhuggi-Jhopri clusters.
"The organised crime gangs in Delhi often exploit the vulnerabilities of the urban poor, engaging in extortion and other forms of exploitation that further entrench cycles of violence and fear. The fluid nature of gang dynamics, with alliances forming and breaking apart, adds another layer of complexity to the situation," said a retired senior cop.
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At first glance, it appears that many gangs initially formed to settle personal scores or gain an edge in college elections. However, the situation quickly escalated, with both sides resorting to violence and eventually engaging in full-fledged criminal activities to sustain their rivalry.
"For example, the Gogi and Tillu Tajpuria gangs which engaged in a deadly gang war in Delhi for years and later ran extortion rackets, originated from a college election at Swami Shraddhanand College. Gogi, a student of the college, took issue with Tillu and his associates interfering with the college elections and allegedly beating Gogi's friend. This incident sparked a decades-long feud, leading to numerous violent encounters and even the deaths of both gang leaders," a senior police officer explained.
Lawrence Bishnoi's foray into crime was also triggered by the rivalry between student organisations in Punjab. For many Delhi gangsters, their journey began with petty crimes, was nurtured during stints in jail, and ultimately found success driven by the aspiration to live a luxurious lifestyle. For instance, gangster Kala Jathedi was first arrested for snatching a mobile phone in 2004. A trip to jail prompted him to form his own gang.
One intriguing aspect of Delhi's gang proliferation is how they gain notoriety. According to sources, while most gangsters in Delhi want to name their gangs after their own names, the cops often inadvertently fuel their reputation by labelling small groups of 3-4 collaborators as a gang, effectively legitimizing their existence in police files.
Each of the gangs have their own distinct identity and sphere of influence. While there are the big names who operate across Delhi, targeting businessmen, bookies, property dealers and builders for extortion, the smaller groups engage in activities like robbery, snatching and land grabbing. A significant number of gangs in Delhi, like the Badhwar gang, are engaged in smuggling and selling illicit liquor in the city and neighbouring states. There are also these "Thak Thak gangs" who originally got their name from police for their modus operandi of knocking on car windows before striking.
The big gangs have 50 to 150 members and have an average six to seven cases against each member. The smaller ones have 5-30 members each. The gangs have access to the best of weapons in Delhi. From copies of foreign-made pistols like Zigana, Taurus, Beretta and Star to the usual 7.65mm pistols manufactured in hubs like Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, Meerut in UP and Munger in Bihar.
The existence of such a large number of gangs is a significant challenge for the authorities, who are tasked with maintaining law and order in a city that is both a political hub and a densely populated urban centre. However, many retired and serving cops said that while tackling the veterans was their job, a comprehensive approach was required to curb the new entrants.
"This involves not only direct action against gang members but also addressing the underlying social and economic issues that fuel gang activity. Strategies might include community outreach programmes, job creation initiatives, and enhanced security measures in vulnerable areas. While law enforcement plays a critical role in controlling gang activity, addressing the root causes socially is equally important," said a senior officer.
Despite these challenges, there have been notable efforts by Delhi Police and other agencies to crack down on gang activity, cops say. Operations targeting specific gangs and their leaders have yielded results, disrupting their operations and, in some cases, leading to significant arrests, they added.
In any case, as Delhi confronts this grim reality, one thing is certain – the city's battle against organised crime is far from over.
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