Mumbai: Cases of harassment by Bhandup goons continue, traders shut shop in protest

The protesting traders in Bhandup on Wednesday

Goons are running amok in Bhandup once again, extracting haftas and terrorising shopkeepers. Unable to take the harassment anymore, over 400 traders held a protest in the suburb on Wednesday. They accused the police and politicians of turning a blind eye to their plight.

A month ago, Subhash Chaurasiya, a paan stall owner, his wife and 75-year-old mother were thrashed by a certain Sandeep Patil. While Patil was arrested following a complaint, the traders said the police pressed ‘light' sections, helping him walk on bail easily. A frightened Chaurasiya shuttered the shop and rushed to his hometown with family, said a trader.

Upset by the assault, traders on Gaondevi Road decided to raise their voices. "Everyone knows the problem of drug abuse in the area. Random people come to us, ask for money. If denied, they attack or threaten us. It's really tough to do business here," said Ghisulal Solanki, president of Gaondevi Road Vyapari Sarv Seva Mandal. "From January 2021, we have been telling the cops to intervene but they don't pay any attention. We have no choice to raise our voice," he added.

More than 400 traders, including jewellers, provisional, general and medical stores gathered on Gaondevi Road in Bhandup West for a silent protest on Wednesday and shut their shops till the afternoon. Bhandup cops held a discussion with the traders at the scene and assured them of action on the goons within 8 to 10 days. The traders then resumed their businesses.

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In 2018, Bhandup was in the grip of panic when 12 murders were reported in the first 8 months and saw several cases of assaults. A delegation of local residents had met then police commissioner Subodh Jaiswal. The local senior inspector was shunted out and a new officer was appointed. The cops chalked out a detailed plan to weed out drugs and criminals. Despite tight vigil, a group of 18 to 20 people vandalised houses, bikes at Ramabai Nagar No. 1 in October of that year. Cops kept up the pressure bringing peace at last. This was followed by the COVID pandemic which too ensured that hooligans did not have a free run. However, traders said, things have now taken a murky turn.

Owners of shops on Gaondevi Road meet before the protest on Wednesday. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

"Many drug users and revellers come here demanding some stuff or money. If we deny, they threaten to attack us. Even if we contact the cops, they simply don't pay any attention to our pleas," said a shop owner. "Many times, we went to the police station complaining the menace, but they didn't even listen to us. Where will we take our grievances? Political parties too distance themselves from this problem. This is strange, we suspect these parties are hand-in-glove with these goons," he added. Sandeep Jalgaonkar, an MNS Leader from Bhandup, said, "Why only this part of the Bhandup is having trouble? Where is the local police? We demand action from Bhandup police as soon as possible. Peace has returned to Bhandup after so many years. We want cops not to ignore such instances."

Cop rejects traders' claims

Shyam Shinde, senior inspector of Bhandup police station rejected the claims of return of criminals. He said, "If traders have any issue or are being troubled by any particular group or person, they should inform us about it. We need names to take action, but since many days there are only talks of agitation. The police have brought peace to the area with hard work. We have externed all notorious criminals and we want peace to continue. Still, we will increase patrolling to make sure there is not a single instance of hooliganism."

The Bhandup police station. The area saw too many crimes in 2018 before cops restored peace

Deepmala Badhe, Shiv Sena corporator (ward no. 113), said, . "The incident which traders pointing out of beating a paan shop owner had happened, the person arrested is my worker and was arrested for no reason. Still, we didn't say a word against it. But now traders are making an issue out of nothing. Bhandup is at peace and there are some trying to make noise and protest".

2018
Last time there was law and order trouble in Bhandup

12
No. of murders in Bhandup in first 8 months of 2018