By Rupang Bhatt, Rajkot, 8 February 2013

As many as 3,000 people associated with world-famous ceramic industry of Than today rallied in Rajkot and submitted a memorandum to Rang IG Pravin Sinha. They demanded strong police actions against the elements involved in extortion activity in Than. They also demanded appointment of strict police inspector in Than, permanent police chowky in Sarvoday society, active patrolling in ceramic industry area, residential area, school and college areas and more police staff in the night.

Surendranagar’s Than is a small town, but its contribution in export of sanitary wares and its share in taxes is remarkable. There are around 250 ceramic units in Than.

The industry people mostly from Variya Prajapathi community here face a major problem of extortion and gundaism of some elements who belong to Kathi Darbar community. These elements are involved in illegal activity of mining and transportation of Carbo shale – a local mineral product, by paying bribes to local police. Posting in Than area is considered lucrative for policemen, as they can get hefty income from the local illegal mine operators.

Same operators, or elements connected to them, thanks to a good relation with policemen become so fearless that they then start harassing school/college going girls in the market.

A ceramic unit owner told DeshGujarat that most of the ceramic unit owners select Surendranagar or Rajkot to educate their children for their safety. Some unit owner stay in Surendranagar or have shifted to Morbi due to same reason. The town otherwise is excellent, but goons and anti-social elements powered by a label of their community and good relations with police have ruined the peace.

As many as 48 villages around Than are involved in ceramic industry for their livelyhood. Than enjoys daily turnover of crores of rupees. This is due to hard working nature of ceramic unit owners, but the state fails to give them safety.

Most of the times, the incidents of extortion and goondaism don’t come to light , but this time when the anti-social elements crossed the limit and attacked one unit owner Shankarbhai Prajapati, the limits were crossed, and all ceramic unit owners observed thee-day strike.

The unit owners complain that anti-social elements extort money when there’s some good occasion like wedding or buying of new car or expansion of factory. Complain to police invites threats and attacks, but actions are not taken. In ceramic industry, wastage is unavoidable, and when a unit owner dump wastage in some ground, he is asked to pay money by these elements.

In Saurashtra the anti-social elements ride on their community’s identity. Like say, if you want to run a unit in Porbandar area, you need to give truck transport orders to particular person who heads particular local community.

The point is, police is just not able to do its job. The elements involved in dadagiri and extortion should be booked under PASA, and kicked out of the district. Peace and prosperity go together.