11 January,2016 10:30 AM IST | | Bhupen Patel
How shoes stolen from temples, gurudwaras, churches, mosques, and wedding venues has now burgeoned into a parallel economy running into crores
Dedh Gully in Kamathipura is one of Mumbai's best-kept secrets. It is here that shoes stolen from temples, gurudwaras, churches, mosques, and wedding venues end up. In a weeklong investigation, mid-day has found that what started as a niche bazaar has now burgeoned into a parallel economy running into crores.
Small market has now burgeoned to around 70 stalls, each stocking an average of 100 shoes a night. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
With Dedh Gully no more remaining Mumbai's little secret, youngsters and college-goers from as far as Ambernath, Kalyan and Raigad flock here looking for a good bargain. The small market has now burgeoned to around 70 stalls, each stocking an average of 100 shoes a night.
And with people seldom filing complaints for stolen footwear, there is little the cops can do. They are, however, worried by the spike in the number of shoe-stealing incidents around the city.
Mustaq Khan, a resident of Kamathipura who has seen the market expand, said, "The way these youngsters keep pouring in to buy shoes is really worrying. It has gone up to 90 percent in last five to six years. It has become a nuisance for the locals staying here. Till some years ago, there were very few stalls in the area but it is now beyond imagination."
Jootachors of Mumbai
mid-day interviewed some foot soldiers who have been in the business for six to seven years. Unlike pickpockets of beggars, there is no gang or group. Each individual operates in his own area. Religious places are their favourite targets. Often, guards and minders contracted by the temple trust are in connivance. (One such minder was arrested from Haji Ali last year for stealing a policeman's shoes worth Rs 4,000)
Buyers head to Dedh Gully at night to buy the stolen shoes. Pic: Sayyed Sameer Abedi
Another bunch of thieves specialise in stealing footwear from residential and commercial complexes, especially in south Mumbai and the western suburbs. These thieves work in teams of two - while one lifts shoes, the other carries bags to stash them. (Last Match, the Kalachowkie police arrested a shoe thief with the help of CCTV footage that caught him breaking open a wooden shoe rack in a residential building.)
These thieves operate in Juhu Andheri, Lokhandwala and other posh localities of Mumbai. They also target Gujarati and Marwari dominated areas like VP Road, Bhuleshwar and Masjid Bunder.
The third category targets only long distance trains like the Rajdhani. One of them buys a first class AC ticket, while an associate travels in sleeper class. The first thief picks up shoes while the commuters are asleep and gives it to the man in sleeper class. Once their nightly target is achieved, the duo gets down at any station and returns to Mumbai.
Malkhaus (middlemen)
Once shoes are stolen, the thieves approach the fencers. These middlemen buy the stolen shoes at a nominal rate and sell it to hawkers near Chor Bazaar after marking them up by 30 per cent to 40 per cent, which they pocket. There are only a handful of Malkhaus in Mumbai and they are the mainstay of the parallel economy. There are about 70 hawkers, who sell the stolen wares in a lane called Dedh Gully near Chor Bazaar. Some hawkers buy shoes directly from the thieves, while the brave among them venture out and steal their own shoes.
When the rest of the city is fast asleep, a remote street in south Mumbai is abuzz with hundreds of youngsters, coming from all parts of Mumbai, its outskirts. The street in Kamathipura 1st lane is popularly called Dedh Gully.
People flock at the stalls looking for a good bargain. Pic: Sayyed Sameer Abedi
The market operates only between 4 am and 8 am on Fridays and Sundays. The youngsters who have arrived by the last local or the first train in the morning throng lane to pick up the best deals on shoes. The buyers are mostly college students who cannot afford the latest fashion brands and come from all parts of Mumbai, and even neighbouring Dahanu, Vasai-Virar, Palghar and Pen. Taxis outside Sandhurst Road charge the shoppers Rs 10/seat to drop them off at Dedh Gully.
"Middle-class and the lower middle-class boys who can't afford expensive brands find them here for just couple of thousands," said a hawker who runs a stall.
Many of these hawkers are local residents. Entire families are involved, with stalls being manned by housewives, boys and even senior citizens. The families work between 3 am and 8 am, before getting back to their routine jobs.
They put up their stalls in their verandahs so they don't have to rent hawking space. They just shell out a couple of hundred rupees to the local police and BMC officers.
One night last week, when this reporter pointed to a police van entering the market, the hawker was dismissive. "Bhai daro mat," he said. "Yeh bhi joota lene aye hain (Don't be scared, the policemen too are here to buy shoes)." During those few hours, some stalls and shops also peddle jeans and garments. Some sell tea, fruits and cold drinks to the shoppers. The hawkers said each stall owner earns approximately R20,000 to 25,000 a day.Just name the brand and you will find the hawker will help you find it from the pile of shoes. Brands like CAT, Nike, Woodland, Lee Cooper are the most common.
Some hawkers also mix fake copies with genuine stolen brands to confuse buyers. "Only regular visitor can differentiate and get a good deal. Mostly, the hawkers cheat new visitors by charging exorbitant rates," said Arvin Prajapati, a buyer from Shastri Nagar, Thane.
