Kanpur's Tiger Force learns self-defence

City industrialists form self-help group to fight goons

Members of the Indian Industries Association (IIA) in Dada Nagar, Kanpur's main industrial area, complain less about the local goons these days.

Last year, with the help of the city administration they formed Tiger Force to fight the hafta menace. Nearly 60 businessmen have been trained to use arms at the shooting range of the local police to use their weapons.

"Some of us had weapons for decades but didn't know how to fire a shot. They were just lying in cupboards," said Jai Kumar Hemrajni, co-chairman IIA.

With the help of a Chandigarh software developer, IIA members in the city have also developed a software that will alert other members by just pressing a key on the computer in case a businessman from the association was in trouble.

The idea has been received so well that businessmen in Saharanpur have now approached the IIA's Kanpur chapter for assistance in putting in place a similar system, said Tarun Kumar Kheterpal, IIA's senior vice-president for Uttar Pradesh. The Tiger Force was already operational in Lucknow, he added.

Businessmen from the city were often approached by local goons for hafta. They often approached the police for assistance.

For instance, some months ago, IIA office-bearers had to step in to rescue some businessmen who had been allotted plots by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation in Udyog Kunj, but were not able to construct their factories due to opposition from the local land mafia.

The police then came into the scene and imparted arms training. "Some of us did not even know how to load our weapons, leave alone shooting accurately at the target," said Kheterpal. Apart from training, the police also ensured that businessmen who were part of the IIA were given licences on priority.

The popularity of the Tiger Force has not gone down well with all sections of the Dada Nagar industrialists, a majority of whom are small businessmen. Some splinter groups have also come up and set up parallel organisations.

"It is bound to happen. It happens every where," said Kheterpal. He, however, insists that the weapons are used only for self-defence.