Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, May 26 (KNB): With beseech of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 to curb the nuisance created by the beggars for the general public in Srinagar the steps taken by the incumbent Deputy Commissioner of the Srinagar district Syed Abid Rasheed Shah the non local beggars have disappeared from outside mosques, shrines, bus stands and traffic signals.
Pertinently, with the ongoing peak tourist season in Kashmir and the sacred month of Ramadan, a number of non local beggars have rushed to the Valley, they may be counted as tourists but factually it is the season for them to earning a big sum.
Taking cognizance of the nuisance Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Syed Abid Rasheed Shah on Wednesday ordered the arrest of beggars found begging in the city. Shah invoked the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 to curb the “nuisance created by the beggars for the general public.”
According to the order under DMS/PS/18/250-254, dated 23-05-2018, the DM also directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar and SSP Budgam to implement this order in letter and spirit and report the number of such arrests on a daily basis.
Various police stations started a drive against the beggars today during which dozens of beggars were taken to the police stations. Talking to Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) a senior police officer said that almost 50-60 beggars were arrested on Thursday.
The people while thanking the incumbent DC for issuing order said the move is a sigh of relief to them, saying that the beggars especially non-locals had created nuisance for the general public.
Every year hundreds and hundreds of beggars from outside the state throng Valley as soon as the tourist season begins. This force usually come in April and leave the valley in the month of October/ November. Irrespective of age and sex they are all engaged in begging. Little kids can be seen begging along with their elders. Women with newly born infants are everywhere moving around pleading the people with begging bowls. (KNB)