Muvattupuzha: Of late, the first sight at your doorstep in the morning is beggars. Be it office or a business establishment, beggars reach there before the first customer. In fact, Muvattupuzha has been swarmed by beggars, who begin their trade right from 6am and continue until 7pm.
Some earn Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 a day. It is estimated that some 200 begging groups are currently stationed in different parts of the city, strategically deployed in places like bus stations, hotels and cinema theaters.
Some beg, while others are accused of committing robberies. Last year, in a joint inspection by social media community members, residents and cops, hundreds of beggars were caught and sent away. Some of them were found to be brought in by the beggars' mafia from other states.
However, the relief was short-lived, and several such groups are back in the city, deployed in areas like Muvattupuzha fish market, stadium, KSRTC depot and Ashramam bus stand.
Varied targets
Residents allege that they indulge in robberies more than begging. Among beggars, there are people who arrive by train in the morning and leave the same way in the evening. It is alleged that once they commit a robbery, the booty changes hands fast, besides changing their appearance too. They are also involved in immoral activities and drug peddling at night.
Cops have repeatedly rounded up women belonging these groups for committing robberies in buses and other public places where people gather in large numbers. Some of the gang members stay put in the city, and are under the influence of drugs at night. They also pick up fights at shops.
Money lending
Recently, there was a big commotion in a shop in the city. A female rag picker had caught hold of the shopkeeper and was showering him with expletives. In fact, the man, who was keeping mum all the while, had borrowed Rs 10,000 from the woman. Though the deadline is over, the man is yet to return the amount and its interest. Likewise, several traders have borrowed money from beggars. Though they don't charge a huge interest; it is their way of keeping money safe by lending. Some don't even charge an interest. Last year, when beggars were caught, ATM cards and smart phones were found on them. Initially, they were suspected as stolen, but later it was found that they own them.
Scared cops
If beggars and female rag pickers are held on charges of theft, lawyers from several parts of the state and even Tamil Nadu arrive to free them from jail. Since even minor lapses on their part would lead to departmental action against them, cops generally let off female rag pickers who are caught and handed over to them by residents. Cops too admit that those coming to beg in the garb of beggars are part of a big chain. There are specific mechanisms to bring them to the state and deploy them in places.
