India, Sept. 16 -- On August 16, 12 men pulled up in two luxury cars and barged into an office on the fifth floor of Trade Star building at MIDC in Andheri (east). They confronted the owner of a company, whose office was being renovated and had employed labourers registered with a mathadi union.

The leader of the goons, a mukadam (crew leader) registered with a mathadi union, demanded Rs.10 lakh from the proprietors and gave him a preview of what would happen if he refused to pay up. The goons dragged his mukadam and team into the street and thrashed them with mallets and crowbars.

The goons weren't looking to be hired in place of the crew doing the work; all they wanted was 'protection money' - money that would prevent future assaults....