Police crackdown on beggars, 10 held

A day after the district administration banned begging in Srinagar, the police on Thursday cracked down on beggars in market places and around shrines in Srinagar city. Around 10 of them were detained. In a formal order issued on Wednesday, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, banned begging at public, religious and other places in the summer capital of Srinagar and directed the police to strictly follow the order and arrest the “violators”. The police on Thursday launched a drive against the beggars and removed them from public spaces, particularly near the traffic signals where they also pose a risk of accidents. “As per law, we have arrested them and will present them before court, which will then take a decision. This is being done on public demand,” a senior police official said, who was part of the drive against the beggars. The Deputy Commissioner, while invoking the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, I960, said, “Being an offense, it is imperative that strict necessary action under law is initiated against the offenders.” In his order, the DC said Srinagar, being the summer capital of J&K, held a great importance in the socio-economic landscape of the state. “Being the capital city of the state with a vast population, it is important for the administration to take all necessary measures to make the district more citizen-friendly and prevent public nuisance at all costs. Further, it is a prime tourist destination in the country,” the order read. According to the ban order, it has been observed that of late, there is a proliferation of beggars on the streets of Srinagar, which creates a massive nuisance for the general public. “The Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam, will implement this order in letter and spirit and report the number of arrests on a daily basis,” he said. The locals have welcomed the move and said this should be implemented in letter and spirit. Making district citizen-friendly In his order, the DC said Srinagar, being the summer capital of J&K, held a great importance in the socio-economic landscape of the state. “Being the capital city of the state with a vast population, it is important for the administration to take all necessary measures to make the district more citizen-friendly and prevent public nuisance at all costs. Further, it is a prime tourist destination in the country,” the order read.