Spurt in gang wars

Tackling rowdyism has become a difficult task as most gangsters who emerge as local dons gain the support of slumdwellers, says S. SHIVAKUMAR.

CHENNAI IS in the grip of a gang war. Gangs wars have suddenly exploded onto the city's streets with murders, retaliatory attacks and kidnapping episodes, shaking the security apparatus in the city. Extortion, settling civil and even family disputes are all high on the agenda of these criminal gangs.

On Friday, a group of slum dwellers blocked traffic at Thousand Lights protesting that some rowdies were trying to take away their land.

The recent attack on the IIT director, Dr. R. Natarajan by an armed gang when he was coming out of a hall after hosting a reception in connection with his daughter's wedding in T.Nagar has again exposed the free movement of criminal gangs in the city. The assailants continue to be elusive.

Meanwhile, following the stepped up violence between gangs, residents of Ice House and Mylapore areas live in constant fear with rumours of armed gangs roaming to settle scores. The problem posed by rival gangs in the city reached a flash point last week when an armed group kidnapped a youth from outside the High Court complex.

Advocates and several passers-by who witnessed the kidnapping episode were shell-shocked at the guts of the gangsters who struck in the heart of the city in broad daylight, that too near the High Court where a large number of police personnel were present.

The victim, Shanmugam, a rowdy-sheeter was attacked and pushed out of a moving vehicle near Ice House police station. He has been admitted to a private hospital, where his condition is stated to be serious.

The police have launched a hunt for Veeramani of Ayodhya Kuppam, a don in Chennai in connection with the kidnapping and assault case. Police records reveal there is a long history of rivalry between the groups of Shanmugam and Veeramani which have led to several incidents of violence.

Two days later, last Wednesday around 7 p.m. there was tension on the Triplicane High Road following rumours that Shanmugam's health condition worsened. Traders downed shutters and motorists fled from the spot. Normality was restored in the area after about an hour on the arrival of additional police strength.

The warning by the Police Commissioner, Mr. K. Muthukaruppan that rowdyism will be put down with an iron hand has come just at a time when residents feared that the situation was slipping out of control. However, warnings have come several times, and residents only keep their fingers crossed.

In an earlier incident, on October 28, there was a murder and an attack in a rivalry between two other gangs in the city. A nine- member gang allegedly led by Vairam, recently released from prison after being detained under the Goondas Act, led a murderous attack at Royapettah.

The gang chased a youth, Jaffer Babu, and attacked him with knives near a housing board colony in Royapettah. Police investigation revealed that the assailants had actually come in search of the victim's brother, Yousuf. However as he was not there they chased his brother and attacked him. While four persons have been arrested, a hunt is on for the remaining accused.

Early last month, an AIADMK sympathiser, `Thottam' Sekar of Zam Bazaar was hacked to death at Balaji Nagar in Royapettah when he was returning home from the AIADMK party office. Though the victim usually travelled by car with personal body guards escorting him, on that fateful day he was travelling on the pillion of a two-wheeler. The gang which had been apparently waiting attacked him and fled the scene.

Tackling rowdyism is seen as a difficult task by some as most gangsters who start their career as petty criminals emerge as local dons. They gain the support of the local slum residents by providing them financial support for marriages, medicine and education. Thus, police find it difficult to get local support for apprehending these criminals. Moreover these gangsters also enjoy political patronage as they gain supremacy.

A doctoral research study on `organised crime in Chennai city' by Dr. C. K. Gandhirajan, DIG, Railways has revealed that there were about 20 mercenary gangs which had been operating in the city. These gangs comprised about 120 members. The study also pointed out that poverty and illiteracy were the prime reason for youth turning into criminals.

The study also suggested the formation of a special unit for tackling criminals in organised crime. Dr.Gandhirajan's research also shows that the absconding accused Veeramani, was a school drop out and started his criminal career around 15 years as a petty bootlegger under the leadership of one Subramaniam, who was later murdered. He soon emerged as a gang leader with a brisk business in illicit liquor.

The study also stated that Veeramani's gang was involved in sale of drugs and as there was demand for this stuff from especially foreign students who stayed in nearby hostels. Veeramani has earned the goodwill of the local residents by supporting them in several welfare schemes using his wealth.

Mr. M. B. Nirmal, founder president of Exnora International, suggests that criminals could be reformed and rehabilitated using ``empathy''. As a test case, he says that Chera, an alleged gangster had now given up his notorious activities and was engaged in social work. Even recently, Chera led an environmental campaign at SAF games village.

Another person, Natarajan of Padianallur, who was now ``reformed'', was recently elected as vice chairman of the local town panchayat. Mr.Nirmal feels that if criminals were given the right opportunity they could become the future assets of society.It is also learnt that the city police are chalking out some rehabilitation packages for reforming criminals.

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