With the onset of the holy month of Ramadhan, the non-local beggars have arrived Srinagar and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, who could be seen soliciting alms in a public place, especially markets and also at the traffic signals. This situation is being witnessed at a time when the government has already banned begging at the public places and at the Masjids. The government had stated that any person found soliciting alms in a public place, or in or about a mosque, temple or other place of public worship, whether or not under any pretence and entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting alms shall be immediately arrested under Section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 read with Section 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Svt 1989. It has been witnessed that the non-local beggars especially in the month of Ramadhan roam in the public places, markets and Masjids and are found soliciting alms. In the ongoing month, these beggars continue to roam in the markets and are found soliciting alms. Moreover, it has been observed that the people usually give Sadqa-e-Fitr to these beggars, which is un-Islamic and must be stopped. There is a need to identify the deserving lot, who are entitled to get the Sadqa-e-Fitr. Besides, the religious clerics also need to make sure that the people are aware and such practices are put to an immediate end.
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