Following directions of Additional IG Karachi, Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh, special teams have been constituted to ensure arrest of beggars’ handler, while 4500 vagrants, including women and children, have been arrested during the anti-vagrancy drive.

KARACHI: Karachi police on Thursday launched special crackdown to arrest professional beggars and their handlers with the purpose to curb this menace.

Following directions of Additional IG Karachi, Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh, special teams have been constituted to ensure arrest of beggars and their handlers, while 4500 vagrants, including women and children, have been rounded up during the anti-vagrancy drive.

Police have conducted a special survey in the port city and identified 104 localities in various areas to further intensify the operation against beggar mafia which is involved in various crimes and creating hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic.

According to the list prepared by police, 27 points have been identified in District South, 21 in the District East, 10 in Malir, 18 in District Korangi, 16 in the District Central, 8 in District West, while 4 spots in City Area where beggar mafia is active.

Police chief directed the officials and and traffic police for high vigilance and monitoring against the mafia to curb the begging practices around commercial centres, signals and other business areas. He also urged the public not to be duped by vagrants who deploy various tricks to seek their sympathy.

To eliminate this major evil of society which produces many other social tribulations, different NGOs are establishing Social Welfare departments.

