With an aim to make Ludhiana a beggar free city, the District Administration and Police Commissionerate Ludhiana would be starting “Beggar Free Ludhiana” drive in the city from November 11, 2020 onwards. For this purpose, DCP (Law and Order) Ashwani Kapoor has been made the nodal officer.A meeting in this regard was held at Bachat Bhawan, here, which was attended by Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma, Commissioner of Police Mr Rakesh Kumar Agrawal, besides several senior officers.Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma informed that a 15-day notice has already been given to all the beggars and from November 11, 2020 onwards, strict action would be taken against them if they are found begging on the streets of Ludhiana city.He said that 40 points have been identified by the Police where a large number of beggars can be seen. He said that their teams would rescue the children involved in begging and would rehabilitate them. Besides, those running these begging rackets would be jailed.
Commissioner of Police Mr Rakesh Kumar Agrawal urged the residents not to offer anything to the beggars and this could also attract strict penal action. He said that from November 11 onwards, children, transgenders, adults etc would not be allowed to beg on the Ludhiana streets. He said that the police were determined to make the city beggar- free.A Whatsapp number (9115601159) has also been released, where residents can alert the police about the location of the beggars. Appealing to residents to support the drive, the commissioner of police has asked them to refrain from giving alms or food to the beggars.Giving details about the plan, Mr Agrawal said, “We have chalked out a special plan to deter the problem. Beggars who are found residing in the city for less than a year will be sent back to their native places. Beggars with disabilities will be shifted to shelter homes. Child beggars will be sent to child shelter homes. Others who are fit will be asked to earn their living by working somewhere.”Prominent among those present on the occasion included Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Kumar Bagga, DCP Traffic Mr Sukhpal Singh Brar, ADCP Rupinder Kaur Sran, ACP Command centre Mr Naveen Kumar, ACP Traffic Gurdev Singh, besides several others.