Beggars to be banished from prime locations

In a major step to rid the city’s prime areas of beggars ahead of Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi Police has declared Connaught Place, India Gate, major traffic junctions, ISBTs and railway stations as “zero-tolerance zones”. Harish V Nair reports.

In a major step to rid the city’s prime areas of beggars ahead of Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi Police has declared Connaught Place, India Gate, major traffic junctions, ISBTs and railway stations as “zero-tolerance zones”.

HT Image

Within two months, special anti-begging squads will be deployed in these areas to round up beggars. Those caught will be produced in a mobile court, to be functional from July 1. Habitual beggars will be arrested and sent to beggar homes while those arrested for the first time will be penalised and issued warnings.

Mukta Gupta, counsel for the National Capital Territory government and Delhi Police stated this on Tuesday before a division bench headed by Justices B.D. Ahmed and P.K. Bhasin, who are hearing a PIL on begging. Gupta said the Lt Governor has approved setting up of two mobile courts for on the spot disposal of cases.

“Though all plans are ready, these will be implemented only after the polls as the code of conduct is in force now,” Delhi government sources said.