Extortion continues unchecked in Haldia

20 January 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 20 JAN: Despite chief minister Mamata Banerjee's directive to curb criminal activities in the state, extortion continues unhindered in the Haldia industrial belt of East Midnapore district. And the extortionists have now switched their allegiance to the Trinamul Congress after the Mamata Banerjee-led party came to power.
A gang of criminals have been extorting money from oil tankers moving towards Haldia Refinery. Theft of valuable cargo, like iron-ore, sugar and coal from outside port premises has reached such an alarming proportion that if immediate action is not taken, trading and shipping in the belt will be affected. Some iron-ore traders allege that the pilferage sometimes goes up to 10 per cent of the cargo. They estimated that iron-ore worth around Rs 22.50 crore is theft from lorries and dumpers every month.
The Trinamul Congress and police administration have not taken any initiative to stop the menace. It is not only that the extortion menace has suddenly become rampant in Haldia, but the rules of the game have also changed with the change of guard at Writers' Buildings.
“During the CPI-M rule, we used to pay "donation" to a certain local strongman and nobody else dared to disturb us. Now, the situation has changed and every leader is out to extract his share,” said a driver of an oil tanker. Every tanker has to pay Rs 200 as "donation" to a local Trinamul strongman who controls the extortion racket at Haldia Refinery site. Everyday, "donation" or subscription is collected from nearly 300 tankers.
Sources in Haldia port said iron-ore constitutes 20 per cent of the total cargo handle at the port and if the pilferage of cargo does not stop immediately trade and industry will be left with no alternative but to shift to other neighbouring ports like Paradeep and Visakhapatnam.
Several industries, including Hooghly Metcoke, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, are contemplating to shift their base to other ports, said a senior port official. Traders' bodies like Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) have already taken up the matter with the port authority and the state administration, but no steps have been taken up yet to solve the menace.
The scramble for booty has become such a free-for-all that infighting within the Trinamul Congress ranks is often being reported.
“There are some workers in the party who are maligning our image. These people are collecting money from truck owners, contractors and factory owners. This practice should immediately be stopped and we have already informed the party top brass,” said a senior Trinamul Congress leader.