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Where phool banaana is safai ka kaam

Pickpockets these days have turned lexicographers, developing their own thesaurus to suit their trade. The code language helps them to communicate quickly with one another in crowded buses and other places without arousing suspicion.

Thus, if they talk about phool (flower), it means a meeting of the fraternity before embarking on a mission. Phool banana has nothing to do with the making of a garland but with fixing up a spot for the meeting.

The term for pickpockets in general is kalakar (artiste). The one who actually picks the pocket is referred to as 'machine'. His accomplice, who tries to distract the victim, is thekbaaz.

The Delhi police discovered this 'thesaurus' after nabbing 48 'artistes' recently.

Sauda means -- no, not deal -- money and a sauda peela hona (deal turning yellow) means a 'machine' has been noticed picking a pocket by the victim or someone else.

Chaabi marna (turning the key) means cutting a victim's pocket with a blade while using only his fingers is silai (stitching).

Whenever caught in the act, say in a bus by an alert passenger, the pickpockets try to snatch the money and even stab the victim. This is called baanve banaana (making 92), because the pickpocket can be booked for robbery under section 392 of the Indian Penal Code.

The 'staff' means the police and safai ka kaam (neat work) is a compliment paid to an experienced pickpocket who never gets caught in the act.

A pickpocket operating in buses is dande ka kalakar (artiste of the stick) while the one active on trains is chakri ka kalakar (artiste of the roller.) 'Night service' is the pickpocket who operates in buses after 1900 hours.

Messages sent to various authorities after an arrest is called chacha ko bata dena (tell uncle) while kahani karna or kahani banana (making a story) is bribing a policeman after arrest.

Police have identified 10 major gangs operating all over the capital. Some are: 'Dhanraj 'alias 'Dhani' gang which is the top gang of pickpockets and operates all over the capital and in trains. The 'Omi 'alias 'Chikna' gang operates in buses on the Ring Road, 'while the 'Chiranjeev' alias 'Dabbu' gang operates on the Shahdara, Inter-State Bus Terminal, Kotwali and Sadar Bazaar routes. The 'Sri Krishna' alias 'Satish Gitpitya' gang operates on both the Inner and Outer Ring Roads.

The 'Mohanlal' alias 'Tony-Rakesh pehalwan' gang is most active in west Delhi, while the 'karate gang' headed by one Nand Kishore alias 'karate' operates in Punjabi Bagh, Nangloi, Sultanpuri, Mongolpuri, Azadpur and Ashok Vihar areas.

UNI

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