1,504 beggars arrested in 11 months

Rawalpindi: As many as 1,504 beggars were arrested in last eleven months during a grand operation by Anti-beggars Squad of City Traffic Police as part of its efforts to make an end to this illegal practice from the society.

According to a report, 176 beggars were arrested in January; 156 in February; 157 in March; 140 in April; 117 in May; 93 in June; 103 in July; 186 in August; 155 in September; 111 in October; and 110 beggars were apprehended in November this year.

Chief Traffic Police Officer Rawalpindi Yousaf Ali Shahid said a total of 937 First Information Report (FIRs) were registered against beggars and 500 child beggars were shifted to Child Protection Bureau to make them responsible citizens of the society.

"The begging is not only an illegal practice but it poses a grave security threat to the dignitaries and other public figures as beggars swarm around the traffic signals where motor vehicles have to stop for their turn," he said.  He said they have already informed through media campaign that if the citizens face any inconvenience triggered by the beggars and street wanderers, they should contact the traffic police helpline and complain regarding the situation.

Yousaf Ali Shahid said they would continue the grand operation unless the city roads, bazaars, markets and public places are purged of the beggars who usually create problems for the general public.