Mumbai: An entire community scapegoated for crimes of a few

Irani youths from Mumbra share their stories and ordeals with mid-day. Pics/Sameer Markande

Records from the Mumbai police show that over 60 per cent of the chain-snatching cases in the city are attributed to people from the Irani community. In fact, property cell cops recently arrested yet another Irani, Kabuli Naushad Ali Jafri, who is involved in 45 cases of chain-snatching and cheating. Cops say that the community protects such criminals from getting arrested when police land at their doors. But Iranis and their leaders say they bear the brunt of the ‘thief' tag due to some rotten apples and the actions of the previous generation.

A police officer involved in Jafri's arrest on Saturday said, "We had launched a manhunt for him and found that he lives in Irani Basti near Ambivli station. We tried to arrest him at least three times from the area but the locals always created hurdles so he could escape easily. So, we were forced to lay a trap outside the colony and nabbed him from there." Cops added that this was not an isolated incident and that they often end up in Irani localities while tracking young chain-snatchers.

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Sadiq Aulad Hussain, a final-year LLB student

Sins of ancestors

Despite cops' claim, members from the community say they face the stigma due to some youths indulging in criminal activities. Some also pointed at the history of the community which led to the ‘thief' tag.

Tehzeeb Jaffri, head of the clan in Ambivli who makes important decisions for the around 2,500 Iranis living there, told mid-day, "Iranis settled in India around 7-8 generations ago and dealt in horse trading, carpets, stones, spectacles and jewellery. But as time passed, only the stones and spectacles businesses survived. Then many of our ancestors started casino-type stalls at local fairs. Some would even cheat the customers by bluffing. The cops called it ‘bol bachchan' crime, but it was mostly a fun game. There are still many who do this for a living. It was only around 8-10 years ago when some of the youths started chain-snatching instead of the traditional businesses as it brings more money in a short time. And this is how our ordeal with the police started".

Young Irani women in conversation with mid-day team, in Mumbra. Pics/Sameer Markande

"I have a dark past too. But I gave up the ways of crime and started living a respectable life," the 70-year-old added. Like Tehzeeb, many from his age group said they have a criminal past too. Sayyed Ali Irani, a 62-year-old who sells precious stones, said, "If you ask the oldies here, many will confess that they took part in crimes at some stage. But most of us, after having bad experiences in jail, which still haunt many of us, shun that path. We don't support crimes or criminals, but would you allow cops to take away your innocent son?"

‘Innocent youth in jails'

"Cops come in numbers, cordon off the area and pick up any random guy from the colony. Many of our youngsters are rotting in jails for crimes they didn't commit, as they were booked under stringent sections, laws such as MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act). Every community has some bad people, but would you tag the entire community as ‘thief' because of that," asked Sayyed.

mid-day holds an interaction with members of Mumbra Irani community

Akabar Ali, 63, said, "Social organisations should do a survey and find out how many of the Iranis who are behind bars have been found guilty till now. Many innocent people are waiting for years for trials. I don't want any criminal to become friends with my son or daughter. We, as a community, throw them away, bar them from entering the colony. We have severed ties with hundreds because of this. But not all listen to us, some veer off the path, attack their parents, elders. It is this same set of people who later become cop informers and put innocent ones in jail."

"Which mother wants to see their son being treated as a criminal? Yes there are rotten apples in our clan, but that doesn't mean that you will tag us as the criminal community," said 65-year-old Zaitoon Bibi.

Ghulam Raza Irani, owner of a construction business

Police brutality

Ghulam Raza Irani, 47, who owns a construction business in Ambivli, said, "I have witnessed some horrific scenarios in life. In 2008, cops had come here to catch some alleged criminals and residents had protested by pelting stones at them. In return, cops opened fire which eventually led to the deaths of Qalandar Aulad Hussain Irani and Khambar Ali. I had filed a writ petition over this with the help of late advocate Shahid Azami. But after Azami's assasination, it was handed over to other advocates and it was dismissed by court in 2012."

When mid-day spoke to youngsters there, some of them also had tales to tell. A 28-year-old, who works for a reputed bank, said, "When I was in college, cops arrived here and took me in along with some others. I was just 18 at the time. Police officers beat me up, told me my life was ruined, and asked me to confess to a chain-snatching which I had not done. As I did not agree, they kept me there for a couple of days. This incident left me scarred and scared of cops."

Another 25-year-old said, "One day while travelling from Badlapur on a bike, cops had asked me to stop. I didn't have a licence, so I tried to flee. But they nabbed me and kept me at the police station for 5 days. They told me to confess to chain-snatching and get arrested, but I resisted. Till this date, I fear cops because they don't need a reason to drag us to jail."

Another 26-year-old said his innocent younger brother has been languishing in jail for 7 years but the trial is yet to start.

Light of education

While many from the community cope with this situation, some have managed to come out of it. In Mumbra, where around 200 Irani families live, many are living prosperous lives, thanks to education.

Qasim Ali Jaffri, who has completed his post graduation diploma and is looking for a job, said, "My father had a few cases of cheating and chain snatching against him. After spending years in jail, he left that path and encouraged me to pursue education. It is due to him that I have finished my post graduation and my sister is now in Std XI. Most youngsters here want to study and make a respectable and peaceful life."

Sadiq Aulad Hussain, 26, who is in the final year of LLB and is an intern for a high court lawyer, said, "In 2020, my father and uncle were arrested by cops and detained illegally. They were released after I complained to the Thane police commissioner. Illegal detention and arrests in our community happen through tip-offs from our own people who are criminals. Later, I understood my father and uncle had resisted some criminals, which led to their arrest."

Zainab and Kulsum Jaffri, whose father was arrested several times for cheating people, said, "Earlier we couldn't understand why father asked us to go to school everyday when some girls would not even go to school. But now we have realised that education is key for progress, not just for us, but for the entire community." Zainab has enrolled for a law course while Kulsum is a second-year BCom student. "Our community is in a bad condition because we are not educated. But we have decided to end this and are confident that we will overcome this hurdle in 10 years," said Kulsum.

Their father Altaf said, "I don't want the bad things which happened to me to repeat with my kids. They should study and become role models for others in our community. Education is the only way to break this chain."

2500
Approx. no. of Iranis living in Irani Pada, Ambivli

Irani ‘bol bachchan' gang leader nabbed

The Dahisar police arrested the leader of the Irani ‘bol bachchan' gang from Ambivili on Sunday. The arrested accused, Haider Tahjib Syed, 50, along with three of his associates had on September 20 stolen gold jewellery worth Rs 3.7 lakh from a woman. Cops are on the lookout for the other three accused.

(Input by Samiullah Khan)

Two chain-snatching cases in a day

On Sunday, two cases of chain-snatching were reported in the city. The first incident was reported to Sion police around 5.35 am on Sunday. The complainant, a 71-year-old man, was walking towards a temple for prayer when a bike-borne assailant snatched his gold chain worth Rs 75,000.

The second incident was reported to Mahim police wherein an unknown person approached a 72-year-old woman in her building and snatched a gold chain worth R30,000. The woman, who was climbing stairs, fell down while the accused took off with the chain. Another person on a bike was waiting for the accused and fled from the spot.

(Input by Faizan Khan)