Thousands of Jewelers Gather in Mumbai to Protest Rising Crime

About 20,000 jewelers from different parts of the Indian state of Maharashtra gathered in the state capital Mumbai on Tuesday in response to a call by jewelry association Maharashtra Rajya Saraf Mahamandal (MRSM) demanding that the state government take appropriate security measures in the wake of an increasing number of robberies and attacks on jewelers and their shops by organized gangs. The protest was supported by the All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF).

In response to a memorandum submitted to the government, the Deputy Chief Minister, R. R. Patil has agreed to issue instructions to government officers to expedite the issuing of arms licenses to jewelers who have been in the business for over five years. The government has also promised to ensure that the concerned authorities take immediate steps to heighten security.

A delegation of 15 jewelers led by MRSM President Fatechand Ranka and GJF Chairman Ashok Minawala met with the Deputy Chief Minister. They urged the government to expedite crime investigations and stolen valuables recovery.

Statistics compiled by the MRSM show that in the last 11 months there have been nearly 40 robberies of jewelry stores or of jewelers transporting merchandise, involving goods worth Rs 100 million ($2.47 million).

These incidents have occurred in broad daylight, resulted in two deaths and left 60 people with severe injuries. In many cases, the attacks have been carried out by groups of 15-30 people armed with guns, large knives or other lethal weapons.

In many cases, the robbers have escaped with the entire stock, leaving the jeweler in a severe financial crisis.

Maharashtra is India’s leading manufacturing and gold jewelry sales state. The GJF and MRSM estimate that it accounts for nearly 45 percent of the total jewelry produced in the country. Nearly 600,000 people are employed by the industry in the state.