736 beggars arrested in 14-day operation

By Our Correspondent
January 21, 2025
A representational image showing beggars sitting on the roadside in Qasimabad on July 17, 2021. — APP

LAHORE:Lahore Police have launched a large-scale crackdown on criminal elements hiding under the guise of beggars. Over a 14-day operation, 736 beggars were arrested, including 701 men and 31 women.

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According to police reports, four facilitators backing organised groups were also apprehended. DIG Operations Faisal Kamran stated that legal cases have been registered against all the arrested individuals. He revealed that many of the arrested beggars were actually drug addicts involved in serious crimes like drug trafficking under the pretense of begging.

Along with sending these individuals to jail, the police have started collecting data about their networks to bring their facilitators to justice. Faisal Kamran further explained that secret teams are actively working to dismantle the networks of beggars in the city, while suspicious activities at key locations, signals, and markets are being closely monitored through Safe City cameras. He emphasized that begging is not just a social curse but also a source of drug trafficking, theft, and other serious crimes. “Giving alms promotes crime, and the police are taking all possible measures to eradicate this menace,” he said. He appealed to citizens to help genuine needy people instead of giving money to beggars and to report elements involved in the begging business immediately at the helpline 15.

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