Thursday, 9 November 2017

Hyderabad Police ‘Bans’ Beggars Ahead of Ivanka Trump’s Visit?

Hyderabad, Nov 8: US President Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump is scheduled to visit India to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) in Hyderabad. Ahead of Ivanka Trump’s visit, Hyderabad Police banned begging on streets in the city. The ban order shall be in force from 6 am on Wednesday to 6 am on January 7, 2018. The police cited Section 144 of CrPc to prohibit begging in the city.

In a notification, Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahendar Reddy said, “Begging alms and also employing children and handicapped for begging in public places and at the main road junctions in the city of Hyderabad by causing inconvenience, annoyance, danger and safety of the vehicular traffic and pedestrians, is prohibited.”

“They are also employing children and handicapped persons to seek alms at the main junctions of roads. Such acts are causing annoyance and awkwardness by exposing in an indecent manner to divert the attention of the vehicular traffic as well as pedestrians and public, in general, to induce them to give I alms. These acts are dangerous to the safety of the vehicular traffic and public in general,” the notification added.

“Any person violating this order shall be liable for punishment under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and as per the provisions of Hyderabad City Police Act, 1348 Fasli, TS Prevention of Begging Act, 1977 and J.J. Act 2000,” Hyderabad Police officials said.

To attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, hundreds of foreign dignitaries are likely to arrive in Hyderabad. Ivanka Trump will address a session during the November 28-30 global summit. After GES get over, there will be a five-day World Telugu Conference from December 15, for which thousands of NRI Telugus will converge in the city.

A similar step was taken by Hyderabad authorities several years ago when then US President Bill Clinton arrived in the city. At that time, beggars were shifted away from the road junctions to across the city.

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“As per the instructions of Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy to make the city beggar-free, we have shifted those in our area to a rehabilitation centre,” Goshamahal area’s Assistant Commissioner of Police Narender Reddy was quoted as saying.

“Some beggars argued that we were taking their freedom to live anywhere they want, but we told them it was for their own good because they are going to the rehab centre where they will be taken care of,” another official said.

The Hyderabad Police had conducted a similar operation in 2000, when then United States President Bill Clinton visited the city.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Mahendar Reddy’s prohibitory order, issued on Tuesday, came into effect at 6 am on Wednesday and will be in force till January 7. Reddy said it had come to his notice that many beggars were seeking alms in an indecent manner and were even employing children and handicapped people.

“Such acts are causing annoyance and awkwardness by exposing in an indecent manner...to induce them to give alms,” the notification read. “These acts are dangerous to the safety of the vehicular traffic and the public in general.”

Those violating the order can be punished under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Hyderabad City Police Act, the Telangana Prevention of Begging Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, the notification said.

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