Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 27: Despite the administration’s recent actions against non-local beggars who cause annoyance in public places, beggars continue to swarm marketplaces and tourist destinations in Kashmir.
Beggars start swarming the Valley with the onset of the holy month of Ramdhan as Muslims donate overwhelmingly during this month. Even though there is no official count of such non-local beggars, a swarm of beggars, including women and children, can be seen seeking alms in the valley’s markets, particularly in the capital city of Srinagar.
“In crowded areas, these beggars approach in groups and almost attack you. You can avoid them for a while, but they come in packs, and you eventually give up and hand over the cash. It feels like you have been robbed, “a local, Javeed Ahmad, said.
People are being urged to stop giving money to these beggars as it is mafia. They are raising awareness about the menace and have even circulated videos of beggars being transported to markets in private cars.
“Do not waste your money by donating to them because they are part of a well-organized mafia,” one user wrote on social media. Another user on social media speculated that the nexus was run by contractors who also provide the children to the beggars.
The majority of these beggars can be seen swarming religious sites such as mosques, shrines, gurudwaras, and other significant locations. Beggars have begun to appear around tourist attractions, causing inconvenience to visitors.
They rush up to tourists as soon as they exit the vehicle and ask for money. “Beggars surround the tourist as soon as they come out of the vehicle and demand money. At the very least, the government should prohibit them from entering tourist areas,” Adil Ahmad, a tourist taxi driver, said, adding that the beggars sometimes grab tourists’ clothes and block their way, only to leave once they receive money.
Begging, according to an official, is not only a public nuisance but also a headache for the administration because beggars enter the region without registering. “They do not have identification with them. They could be anyone. If they engage in social crime, they are difficult to track down. They are also a significant security threat, “a local said.
The administration has recently begun a campaign to deport beggars and has even bundled them into police vans from various public locations. “In recent days, we have deported a number of beggars, but they keep returning. We understand the hardships people are facing and are working to keep beggars out of the city,” Hanief Balki, Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, told Excelsior.
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