BHIWANDI: In a brazen incident exposing the violent grip of local contractor cartels in Bhiwandi’s logistics belt, a 27-year-old JCB operator was intercepted and brutally assaulted with iron rods near Mankoli.The Narpoli police have booked four individuals after the attackers vandalized the heavy machinery and threatened the worker to stop operating in the area.The victim, identified as Yashwant Maurya (27), was hired a few months ago by Indian Corporation—widely recognized as Bhiwandi’s largest warehousing complex. According to police sources, the attack was triggered after the company recently terminated the JCB contract of a local operator, Varun Mhatre, and procured its own machinery to handle operations directly.Mhatre had reportedly issued open threats to Maurya, warning him against operating the company-owned JCB inside the hub. Maurya had even filed an NC regarding the threats.When he did not stop work, a group of four men allegedly ambushed him on the road, shattered the JCB’s panels, and viciously assaulted him with iron rods while issuing death threats.The incident has unmasked the pervasive contractor monopoly in Bhiwandi, one of the country’s primary warehousing and supply chain hubs, where local groups allegedly use muscle power to restrict outside labor and enforce cartel-driven operations.Calling for urgent police intervention, Chief Executive Officer Pradeep Rawal of Indian Corporation stated that the firm was forced to terminate Mhatre’s contract after uncovering widespread financial irregularities.“The contractor had been inflating work hours and operational logs, embezzling crores of rupees over time. After identifying the fraud, we discontinued his services and deployed our own machines and staff,” CEO Rawal said. “This violent ambush was a direct retaliation. We urge the police to arrest all four accused immediately to restore a sense of safety, as this intimidation has triggered severe panic among our workforce.“The Narpoli police have registered an FIR against four unidentified persons for assault, criminal intimidation, and property damage. Further investigation is underway.
