Both the state and the central government have been facing a series of challenges in fending off a growing number of urban Indian youths who are looking to take control of their own future. These youths often feel alienated from the system and lack sense of belonging. They also look for ways to express their anger and frustration at an array of unfairness in contemporary life. Hence, unorganised youth crime has become one of the most visible manifestations of this problem. The term ji rimaza (black market) is used to describe an illicit trade that is prevalent in city centers and other urban settings. In cases like these, police adopt a variety of strategies to find out what is going on and try to prevent its recurrence. They also make efforts towards making sure that no one gets hurt when participating in ji rimaza. Here we discuss two such strategies – black market policing and disruption operations.
What is black market policing?
This is a field of law which deals with the black market in goods and services, particularly those related to narcotics and arms dealing. This field of law also happens to be a branch of the penal system. The term black market comes from the fact that access to the black market is often done by informal networks, often unorganized. Traditionally, black market activity has been associated with the trading of drugs and firearms, but the concept has since gained much wider application.
How does black market policing work?
A black market, or black-market activity, is any activity where the supply of goods and services is determined by human activity. A black market, therefore, can be said to exist between private parties. The participants in a black market are usually categorized as sellers, customers, or both. In a black market, the key players are often informal networks of people who exchange goods and services with one another. These networks often evolve through trading and barter.
Jharkhand’s Black Market Police
Jharkhand’s black market police have been operationing in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa, and Thane for the past few years. The metropolitan police has allowed these units to operate under their own authority, under the aegis of the Central Drug Squad, which is responsible for conducting inter-state Serious Crime (SCC) operations. CMD’s presence in the cities has grown over the years, partly as a result of which the black market has been increasing in the same areas. In 2014, CMDs were engaged in dealing in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa, and Thane. In 2016, they were added to Delhi and Mumbai. In each of these cities, CMDs operate under the aegis of the Scorpio Group of companies, which is one of the largest drug lords in the world.
Bharat Tank’s Disruptive Operations
Bharti Tank (then Industrial Development Authority) is a well-known player in the cash-for- Goods and services trade in Jharkhand. Currently, the authority has around 1,000 employees and is considered to be one of the oldest companies in Jharkhand. Bharti Tank was established in 1914 as a government-owned undertaking. In the past few years, the company has been exploring various new strategies in combating black market activities. In 2016, Bharti Tank started operating as a commercial enterprise and began operating out of its home base, Jharkhand Industrial Estate.
Conclusion
The number of unorganised youths is growing rapidly in urban areas across the country. These youths often feel alienated from the system and lack sense of belonging. They also look for ways to express their anger and frustration at an array of unfairness in contemporary life. Hence, unorganised crime has become one of the most visible manifestations of this problem. The term ji rimaza (black market) is used to describe an illicit trade that is prevalent in city centers and other urban settings. In cases like these, police adopt a variety of strategies to find out what is going on and try to prevent its recurrence. They also make efforts towards making sure that no one gets hurt when participating in ji rimaza. Here we discuss two such strategies – black market policing and disruption operations.
