They alleged that there was an organised gang of traders operating in the market, who bought grey cloth from weavers and then declared themselves bankrupt. No action could be taken against them as most of the deals between weavers and traders were not on paper.

Making a more serious allegation before the police commissioner, the delegation under the Surat Grey Kapad Utpadak Sangh (SGKUS), accused the Salabatpura police of being hand-in-glove with the culprits and not taking adequate action, although six complaints had been lodged in the police station in the past week.

City Police Commissioner Maniram, while assuring the delegation that all necessary steps, even those against erring policemen would be taken if proven so, asked the leaders to provide specific cases against policemen who had failed to do their duty.

He also said that an independent inquiry would be conducted by a police officer of the rank of DCP into the matter, but not before specific complaint aided by facts were given in writing.

President Manu Patel and secretary Shankar Patel of the SGKUS said that they were planning to approach the Home Ministry in Gandhinagar as they were not satisfied with the response of the police commissioner.

The 200-odd weavers of different weaving associations who had gathered outside the police commissioner's office also staged a dharna as the commissioner did not meet them personally and raised slogans against the Salabatpura police including PI S M Rajput, whom they alleged was shielding the criminals.