Kashmir: Kashmir valley is fast turning into a beggar’s paradise. The residents complaint that the beggars unleash trouble among pedestrians and commuters by chasing to fetch money.
They said that this has not only annoyed people but is also giving hard time to tourists as well. Sources said that trucks filled with non local beggars are reportedly being dropped at various key points of the city.
Pertinently these beggars are frequently seen on the busy city streets. Pedestrians and commuters alleged that these beggars do not leave any passerby without fetching money from them. “They will chase you if you don’t pay them anything,” Taskeen a student of Khotibagh said.
Abdul Rasheed, another pedestrian asked why this place is being filled with beggars. “Most of them are those who cannot even walk. I think it is big business nexus and government should take serious note of the problem,” he said.
A non-local girl, 15 years old, who was seen begging at Zero bridge, told Press Trust of Kashmir that she came here along with her brother and mother.
“I am a Hindu. I was studying at a local school at my village in Bihar. A Kashmiri, we call him contractor, told my Bother to come Kashmir for a job. The contractor took Rs 10000 from us and brought us here after that he absconds. We are now begging here as we have no other work to do,” she said.
These beggars could be seen pulling the dupattas of women and even chasing men to fetch money. Another local Sajad Hameed while taking to Press Trust of Kashmir said that they will not let you go unless you pay them some money. “If you enter a shop they will chase you. This has become a serious concern and authorities should do something”, he said.
Besides this, another fear that has gripped people is that these non-local beggars are reportedly found involved in stealing, pick pocketing and various other bad practices.