The Pioneer 20.10.2010
Beggars create nuisance near Clock TowerPNS | DEHRADUN
Groups of women and children begging on the roads are creating serious public nuisance around the Clock Tower in Dehradun. The beggars are known to harass tourists as well as locals until they pay money to them and even they don’t hesitate in stealing purses and mobiles of the tourists.
Such blatant anomalies are continuing in spite of the fact that begging is a punishable offence in the city. The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) too has the authority to take legal action against beggars creating public nuisance, but has failed to do so.
Women carrying small babies in their laps and children could be seen chasing people for alms at Clock Tower, Darshan Lal Chowk and even in Paltan Bazzar.
They block the way, pull the clothes and keep on nudging the visitors and sometimes snatch purse and vanish into the labyrinths of near by localities. And if caught, these children apologised in a manner that the people have no other option but to let them off.
According to sources there is a gang active in Dehradun which force these women and children to beg against their will. This gang has its base in slums situated at the banks of Rispana and Bindal rivers within the city limits. The gang gives shelter to the beggars in the slums and asks for a share in alms from the beggars.
The police however keep an eye on each and every incident on Clock Tower with the help of close circuit camera installed there, but so far failed to curb this menace.
Local police had even caught some juveniles indulging petty thefts but that did not make any visible difference on ground.
