The extortion industry of Kashmore

Though extortion in all accepted forms, names and possible manifestations exists throughout our country - across national institutions, political offices, bureaucracy, clergy, healthcare industry, educational and coaching institutions as well as shrines - direct financial extortion, particularly in the form of protection money, poses the greatest threat to lives and livelihoods in many areas, with Kashmore and Kandhkot, Sindh, being no exception. Driven by political, strategic, feudalistic and economic interests, decades of epic misgovernance have systematically invested in and contributed to lawlessness, ignorance, tribalism, tribal feuds and tribal warlords. This investment in the fate of the people of Kandhkot and Kashmore has overly rewarded its architects and beneficiaries in the form of an offence economy for years. As fair economic activities and offence economies rarely flourish together, all-out efforts are being made to accelerate the latter at the expense of the former.

While tribal feuds, tribal terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, robbery, bike and mobile snatching, daylight trespassing and dacoity have gravely endangered the lives, livelihoods and peace of the district, the addition of extortion has pushed public life to the brink of exhaustion. A common threat to the district's entire population though, extortion in the name of protection money particularly targets the Hindu business community due to its significant economic contributions. As I write this, about 100 citizens - mainly from the Hindu business community in Kandhkot, Kashmore, Tangwani and Ghouspur - have received calls and extortion notes demanding amounts ranging from 0.2 to 10 million, with dire consequences over non-compliance. Worse still, even hand-cart owners couldn't escape this threat. The state and its functionaries - either incapacitated or complicit, or both - seem to have delegated their protective role in the district to patronised non-state actors and facilitators, resulting in a thriving extortion industry.

How does this extortion industry work in the district? Apparently protected bandit gangs obtain lists of affluent members of the Hindu business community as well as others from local facilitators or intermediaries. These insiders, living in and familiar with the heartlands of the towns, provide information after assessing the financial and business status of people. Extortion notes or calls then follow, detailing the demanded amounts, deadlines, and threats in case of non-compliance. Finding no respite from the police and local authorities, the affected citizens have to contact the designated extortionists for payment.

Thereafter, the criminals, through their local intermediaries among the residents, collect the money and distribute it among the shareholders. And the defiant few find their businesses indiscriminately attacked by heavily armed bandits roaming in the heart of the cities, often under the watchful eye, if not the protection, of the police. A couple of shops belonging to Hindu businessmen were indiscriminately fired upon this month alone. Most businesses or shops cannot operate unless their owners earn 'protection insurance' from bandits and get it renewed periodically by paying extortion money.

Way forward? The civil society, including mainstream local media, nationalist and religio-political parties and the Hindu Panchayat, has long traded its ability to drive positive change in exchange for vested interests and ties with the local bureaucracy and tribal influentials. This erosion occurred even before the civil society's potential was fully realised in the district. Most of its leadership speaks out of both sides of their mouths. Hence, the repeated calls fail to make an impact.

One might ask why the police, Rangers and intelligence apparatus deployed in the district are reluctant to take a decisive action against the bandits, their patrons, facilitators, informers and intermediaries involved in the extortion industry in Kashmore, Kandhkot, Tangwani and Ghouspur. This inaction does not stem from a lack of knowledge about who the culprits and beneficiaries of lawlessness and extortion are, but from a complete knowledge of their identities and affiliation.