This story is from October 28, 2012
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Families of Gujarati businessmen in Antwerp are the new targets of gangsters seeking a quick bounty. If this continues, say traders, they may have to shift to Dubai.
Families of Gujarati businessmen in Antwerp are the new targets of gangsters seeking a quick bounty. If this continues, say traders, they may have to shift to Dubai.
They control up to 80 per cent of Antwerp’s $45 billion annual diamond trade. But the dominance of Gujarati businessmen in Antwerp, the world's biggest diamond trading hub, seems to have put them under the spotlight of international crime syndicates .
Poll
Do you think India-UK FTA would ease out US's tariff effects on India export sector?
NoYes
Two sensational heists, targeting Gujarati businessmen from leading companies , have put a question mark on the security of the diamond traders and their families.
The latest incident was on October 12, when gangsters — who were speaking to each other in Italian — targeted the wife of Prashant Bhalani, a sales manager of Kiran Gems Private Limited. The armed gang members threatened to shoot Bhalani’s wife if he did not deliver diamonds to them at his home. They left after Bhalani handed over stones worth Rs 150 crore.
Almost two years back, on March 5, 2010, Pankaj Maldar, who heads Indian firm KARP Impex’s Antwerp office, was held hostage for 18 hours with his wife and children in his home in Wilrijk outside Antwerp by three men, again speaking Italian. Maldar was forced to go to his office and bring the polished diamond stock, while the gang stood guard over his family. They left only after getting diamonds worth Rs 50 crore.
Many Gujarati diamond businessmen in Antwerp say they have become extra cautious after these heists. They already have CCTV at home but are now planning to employ armed guards.
“Hoveniersstraat, or Gardener’s Street, is the backbone of the diamond market, where four-fifths of the world’s uncut diamonds are traded. The area, which houses the diamond offices, is under high security and we are safe there. But we are helpless when gangsters target our family members and ask us to bring the stock from our safe vaults,” says Jitu Bagadia, leader of the Gujarati Samaj in Antwerp and a diamond trader who lives in the city with his wife and daughter.
Most Gujaratis have their homes in areas like Belgelei, Van Eycklei, Quintan Matseslie , Edegem and Wilrijk. Barring one or two areas, most are a half hour drive away from the main diamond centre . Following the 2010 heist, the leaders of Antwerp's diamond industry had discussed security of the Indian community with the police and governor and it was decided to increase patrols in the diamond district and in neighbourhoods like Wilrijk where Maldar’s family was targeted.
But the Indian diamond community says that much more needs to be done.“Despite increased security, criminals are successfully targeting the businessmen and their families. It seems Gujaratis are on their hit-list ,” says Dinesh Navadia, president of Surat Diamond Association (SDA), who is planning to take the issue to the Belgian ambassador and consul general in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Sanjay Mehta, a diamond trader in Antwerp adds, “It’s a frightening thing to see your wife and children facing a gangster’s gun in your own house. The only saving grace is that until now, they have not killed anyone.”
But the community is in no mood to let matters deteriorate further, even indicating that they might shift base if such incidents continue. “We have started building pressure on the Belgian authorities through our contacts in India,” says an Antwerp-based diamond trader. “We want more security for our families. The areas where the Gujarati diamantaires have their homes should be provided better police patrolling and additional deployment of armed guards. One more heist and we will seriously consider shifting base to Dubai.”
Trade tremors
There are 400 Gujarati families living in Belgium, most of them connected to the diamond trade
The Antwerp diamond centre is contained in a two square mile area, which houses 1,850 companies, about 70 per cent of which are owned by Gujaratis
Almost 25 years ago, Antwerp had more than 30,000 cutters and polishers. But now, their number has decreased to only about 1,000 as most of the manufacturing has moved to Surat
Antwerp’s diamond industry was earlier controlled by Jews. But the tide started to turn about two decades ago when the Gujaratis started beating the Jews
Many Jews are worried about the new competitive pressure and now prefer to meet clients in the privacy of their offices for fear that Indians will poach their remaining business
Danger for desis in diamond land
Melvyn Thomas / TNN / Updated: Oct 28, 2012, 06:08 ISTShare
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Families of Gujarati businessmen in Antwerp are the new targets of gangsters seeking a quick bounty. If this continues, say traders, they may have to shift to Dubai.
Families of Gujarati businessmen in Antwerp are the new targets of gangsters seeking a quick bounty. If this continues, say traders, they may have to shift to Dubai.
They control up to 80 per cent of Antwerp’s $45 billion annual diamond trade. But the dominance of Gujarati businessmen in Antwerp, the world's biggest diamond trading hub, seems to have put them under the spotlight of international crime syndicates .
Poll
Do you think India-UK FTA would ease out US's tariff effects on India export sector?
NoYes
Two sensational heists, targeting Gujarati businessmen from leading companies , have put a question mark on the security of the diamond traders and their families.
The latest incident was on October 12, when gangsters — who were speaking to each other in Italian — targeted the wife of Prashant Bhalani, a sales manager of Kiran Gems Private Limited. The armed gang members threatened to shoot Bhalani’s wife if he did not deliver diamonds to them at his home. They left after Bhalani handed over stones worth Rs 150 crore.
Almost two years back, on March 5, 2010, Pankaj Maldar, who heads Indian firm KARP Impex’s Antwerp office, was held hostage for 18 hours with his wife and children in his home in Wilrijk outside Antwerp by three men, again speaking Italian. Maldar was forced to go to his office and bring the polished diamond stock, while the gang stood guard over his family. They left only after getting diamonds worth Rs 50 crore.
Many Gujarati diamond businessmen in Antwerp say they have become extra cautious after these heists. They already have CCTV at home but are now planning to employ armed guards.
“Hoveniersstraat, or Gardener’s Street, is the backbone of the diamond market, where four-fifths of the world’s uncut diamonds are traded. The area, which houses the diamond offices, is under high security and we are safe there. But we are helpless when gangsters target our family members and ask us to bring the stock from our safe vaults,” says Jitu Bagadia, leader of the Gujarati Samaj in Antwerp and a diamond trader who lives in the city with his wife and daughter.
Most Gujaratis have their homes in areas like Belgelei, Van Eycklei, Quintan Matseslie , Edegem and Wilrijk. Barring one or two areas, most are a half hour drive away from the main diamond centre . Following the 2010 heist, the leaders of Antwerp's diamond industry had discussed security of the Indian community with the police and governor and it was decided to increase patrols in the diamond district and in neighbourhoods like Wilrijk where Maldar’s family was targeted.
But the Indian diamond community says that much more needs to be done.“Despite increased security, criminals are successfully targeting the businessmen and their families. It seems Gujaratis are on their hit-list ,” says Dinesh Navadia, president of Surat Diamond Association (SDA), who is planning to take the issue to the Belgian ambassador and consul general in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Sanjay Mehta, a diamond trader in Antwerp adds, “It’s a frightening thing to see your wife and children facing a gangster’s gun in your own house. The only saving grace is that until now, they have not killed anyone.”
But the community is in no mood to let matters deteriorate further, even indicating that they might shift base if such incidents continue. “We have started building pressure on the Belgian authorities through our contacts in India,” says an Antwerp-based diamond trader. “We want more security for our families. The areas where the Gujarati diamantaires have their homes should be provided better police patrolling and additional deployment of armed guards. One more heist and we will seriously consider shifting base to Dubai.”
Trade tremors
There are 400 Gujarati families living in Belgium, most of them connected to the diamond trade
The Antwerp diamond centre is contained in a two square mile area, which houses 1,850 companies, about 70 per cent of which are owned by Gujaratis
Almost 25 years ago, Antwerp had more than 30,000 cutters and polishers. But now, their number has decreased to only about 1,000 as most of the manufacturing has moved to Surat
Antwerp’s diamond industry was earlier controlled by Jews. But the tide started to turn about two decades ago when the Gujaratis started beating the Jews
Many Jews are worried about the new competitive pressure and now prefer to meet clients in the privacy of their offices for fear that Indians will poach their remaining business
