District Magistrate Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, in exercise of powers vested in him under the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Beggary (JKPB) Act 1960, Wednesday issued an order directing immediate arrest of persons found soliciting alms at public places.
The order is aimed at ensuring implementation of provisionsof the JKPB Act prohibiting soliciting of alms at public places.
It directs for immediate action against anyone indulging insoliciting of alms at public places including in or around places of worship orentering any private premises for the purpose of soliciting alms. The orderalso directs for action against those exhibiting sores or wounds or injuries ordeformities or disease with the object of obtaining or extorting alms.
The order states that offenders will be arrested and bookedunder Section 4 of the JKPB Act 1960 read with Section 61 of the Code ofCriminal Procedure 1989.
An official statement said Senior Superintendent of PoliceSrinagar has been asked to ensure strict implementation of the order and reportthe number of such arrests made on a daily basis. The order is aimed atpreventing public nuisance that beggary and its proliferation in the districtas is the case possess to the day-to-day life.