Like his predecessors, Gate Ganesh was killed by an associate who could well be the next don in the area
Like his predecessors, Gate Ganesh was killed by an associate who could well be the next don in the area
The murder of rowdy-sheeter Gate Ganesh is in keeping with K R Market's history of bloodshed that started out around 25 years ago.
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Ganesh, like his predecessors who controlled the "hamali (coolie) mafia", was killed by a close associate.
Meanwhile, tomato merchant Elumalai often faced similar insults while Ganesh was collecting hafta. "So much so that once Ganesh beat him black and blue in front of the other vendors,'' a police officer said.
Elumalai cashed in on the squabble between Ganesh and Saravana and offered a lucrative supari of Rs 10 lakh to the latter. Elumalai also discussed the plot with brother-in-law Ellisa and another rowdy-sheeter Vedi alias Vediyappan.u00a0
At least 30-35,000 vegetable bags are either loaded or unloaded at City Market and Kalasipalya every day. The mafia turnover per day is estimated at around Rs 1.75 lakh.u00a0"A hamali (coolie) in city market and Kalasipalya area charges Rs 5 per bag. However, he gets only 80 paise while the rest is distributed among mafia leaders.
According to a recent rule, however, Ganesh would pocket Re 1 and the rest would be shared among his associates."
The police can do little about the hamali mafia as coolie labourers support the set-up because of their share, however meagre. But they are trying to break the meter interest mafia (meter baddi) who charge exorbitant interest by asking banks and co-operative societies to initiate small-loan facility.
Though Saravana has been remanded to judicial custody, he is likely to be the next hamali mafia don after his release.
Bloody history
The market's history of bloodshed began with a rowdy called Ayub and his fight for supremacy, say police. Police say Ayub and Shankar were close accomplices till Shankar killed Ayub and became the leader of the mafia. He, in turn, was killed by associate 'Bedhi' Krishna in connivance with Gate Ganesh, Venkatesh and Gopal.u00a0 Bedhi Krishna became the leader but without taking lessons from history. Gate Ganesh scripted his murder and went on to become the leader.
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