Indian traders and lenders have become a permanent fixture of Philippine society.  Easily recognizable because of their distinct physical features, they are often seen in the public markets collecting payments from stallholders for small loans, commonly known as 5-6. But there are legions of Indian nationals all over the country who are big-time businessmen, owning department stores, restaurants and trading firms.

Indeed, the estimated 200,000 members of the Indian community,  the second largest group of foreigners after the Chinese, are generally living prosperously, thanks to their natural industry and enterprising spirit. 

But lately, the Indian community has been caught in the grip of fear and unrest due to the spate of kidnappings and killings that have victimized its members. Mafia-like gangsters in the community, in league with Filipino criminals, have been preying on Indian businessmen, big-time and small-time alike, by demanding protection or extortion money from them.  Easily vulnerable to these nefarious activities are the 5-6 lenders who usually carry large amounts of cash with them?without any security escort?as they move around.  Those who refuse to pay are held up, kidnapped and/or murdered.

At the latest count, some 140 Indian nationals have already been killed over the last two years. More than a hundred million pesos have been paid as ransom to the kidnappers in exchange for the freedom of the victims. Most of the kidnap-for-ransom and murder cases have been unsolved because families of the victims are too afraid to go to the police for fear of reprisals.  Many of them are also wary that law enforcers would demand money from them before acting on their complaints, especially because they are foreigners without any government connection.

The string of abductions and killings surfaced only after the wife of restaurant owner Surjit Singh was slain last Dec. 8. Singh?s wife, Janet Tabiernos, was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding hit men along United Nations Avenue in Manila while on her way home from their restaurant. Janet, an Ilocana, turned out to be a niece of special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu, former Armed Forces chief of staff.

Surjit says he was the real target of the assassins because he had been receiving death threats through text messages from unknown individuals before her murder. He incurred the ire of the kidnapping syndicate after he tried to persuade the families of the crime victims to come forward and seek the help of the police. He is a director of the Filipino-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, formed only three years ago, which is  actively involved in assisting the victims and their families in solving the kidnapping and murder cases.

Almost every month, a member of the Indian community is being kidnapped.  One of the latest victims was a trader in Mandaluyong City. Five months ago, another trader was abducted in Angeles City.  He was brought to the kidnappers? hideout in Nueva Vizcaya.  When he was recovered by the police after payment of ransom, he was still hogtied.  The Filipino confederates of the kidnap gang were caught by the lawmen. Later, an Indian woman, the suspected mastermind of the abduction, was found dead in her apartment.

There was also the case of a 17-year-old Indian boy who was killed by his abductors even after ransom was paid. He was found beheaded, his head connected to his body only by a sliver of flesh.

The rash of kidnappings was traced by leaders of the India business community to the leadership struggle in the Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple on UN Avenue in Paco district.  The Khalsa Diwan is the foremost gurdwara or place of worship among 200 others that cater to the religious needs of the members of the Indian community.   Established in 1929, it is considered the oldest, largest and richest congregation of Indians in the country.

Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico, vice chairman of the Filipino-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that reports and information gathered by the organization indicated that the recent spate of kidnappings and slayings were perpetrated by Indian nationals themselves to intimidate their fellow nationals into relinquishing the control of Khalsa Diwan to their group.  The violent conflict started when the group?s leader, identified as Bhagwan Rai Bangsal, was ousted as president of Khalsa Diwan.

Two years ago, Bansal had reportedly been ambushed in Caloocan City. He survived the incident but his companion, named only as Sharma, was killed in the incident. But there were insinuations that the bloody attack was stage-managed because Bansal owed Sharma a huge amount of money.

Suplico, a former congressman, says their group has asked the National Police to investigate Bansal because of suspicions by members of the Indian community that he had something to do with the kidnappings.  He says they were informed that Bansal?s own nephew, named Umar, acts as his ?enforcer.?  He says this influential Indian is protected by a phalanx of one or two dozens of bodyguards wherever he goes.

According to the Iloilo vice governor, members of the chamber have held a series of meetings with PNP top brass led by Director General Jesus Verzosa; the police officials have committed to exert utmost efforts in solving the kidnapping and murder cases and to extend protection to members of the Indian community whose names supposedly appear in the abductors? hit list.

About a dozen Indian nationals suspected of involvement in these cases have been jailed. But Naris Masooka, a director of the chamber, said they are lower-level members of the syndicate and the mastermind remains scot-free.

The 600-member chamber has also made representation with the Immigration bureau and Foreign Affairs Department for the possible deportation of undesirable Indian nationals involved in criminal activities. Likewise, it informed the Indian ambassador in Manila and Indian Prime Minister Muhammad Singh about the acute law and order problem besetting the Indian community here. It urged the Indian envoy to write a letter to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo informing her of the urgency of addressing the problem.

Suplico says that the chamber is even shouldering the lawyers? fees to encourage the kidnapping victims and their families to file formal complaints and testify against the suspects.  For unless they come forward and cooperate with the authorities, these cases will remain unsolved and these notorious crime lords will continue hounding the Indian community.