The dark world of looted art

The nation's burglars have long been compartmentalized in a hierarchical system.

- Jitha Karthikeyan

The upper echelons comprise the privileged lot of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, ruthless humans with mercenary motives disguised as businessmen and a host of other such parasites. The middle rung consists of those we encounter in our daily lives who fleece us on a small scale level on any given occasion. They are the only ones we sometimes have the energy and the courage to argue with and call them out. At the bottom of this chain lies the quintessential robber – the pickpockets, chain snatchers, thieves and the rowdies. They typically fill most Indian prisons, taking turns to vacate and return after a short gap.