By Firdous Hassan
Srinagar: A days after government imposed ban on begging in Srinagar, at least 54 non-local beggars were on Thursday detained by the police here.
The government has directed the police to arrest beggars spotted taking alms from the people outside mosques, shrine, or at public places.
The order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, under Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act I960, which declares begging an offense.
The police has been directed to “take all measures necessary to make the (Srinagar) district more citizen-friendly and to prevent public nuisance”.
As per a police official, various police stations including Kothi Bagh, Maisuma, Shaheed Gunj, Nowhatta, and Rajbagh launched a drive against beggars in their respective areas.
“The police station Kothi Bagh alone detained 23 beggars today. A total of 54 beggars were detained during the day,” the SDPO Police Station Kothi Bagh, Imran Farooq, told The Kashmir Monitor.
Dawood Ayoub, SP East, said the beggars were produced before the magistrate later in the evening.
“They were to be taken there as per the recent order by the Deputy Commissioner. Let us see what he orders us to do,” he said.
Ayoub said the police would intensify the drive in the coming days.
“We have to act as per the Act, and we all know it has become a major nuisance here now,” he said.
Every year in Ramadan, scores of beggars from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal throng to Kashmir for alms, as people prefer donating money and essentials during the holy month.
