Mornings are usually jam-packed with meetings for Ashish Dwivedi. But today, the CEO is at home briefing his executives on safety tips, about taking extra precaution while coming or going home from work.
Ashish was driving home from his office in Noida on Saturday night when his Honda car was attacked.
Some men in another car blocked his way and tried to kidnap him. Ashish fought back and the attackers raced away.
Now, Ashish is convinced that executives in Noida are soft targets.
Ashish Dwivedi, Chief Executive Officer, Expedient-e-Solutions
"I think we are paying the cost of development. A police official told me there are only 250 people manning the whole of Noida. How can we feel safe like this?" he said.
The police, on the other hand, have nothing new to say.
"People should be careful and alert about their surroundings," said A K Tripathi, Superintendent of Police, Noida.
Ashish's family has abandoned any pretense of life as usual.
"I am scared. I didn't even send my daughter to school today. If something can happen to my husband even we are not safe," said Madhu Dwivedi, Ashish's wife.
Other executives from Ashish's company are also on guard.
"I've never thought twice about driving late at night. But now I'll have to be very careful," said Ashish's colleague Shobhit.
There is a growing sense of unrest amongst entrepreneurs in Noida. On one hand they are worried about their security and on the other hand they have a new problem -- of retaining their employees.
Rajiv heads a software company in Noida. He's called an emergency meeting with other entrepreneurs to discuss the one-point agenda -- companies versus the suburb's crime graph.
"The employees who are working here and have come from other parts of the country are now looking for alternatives," said Rajiv, a software professional.
Noida has been aggressive about pitching itself to the business world as an option to Gurgaon. So far, real estate and infrastructure, better electricity and water were working in Noida's favour.
But recent attacks on executives are urging companies to think about whether to take their business elsewhere.
Source:ndtv.com