Police roundup beggars

5 July 2010 06:45 am - 57 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Indika Sri Aravinda

A special police unit has begun rounding up beggars from the streets of Colombo and its immediate suburbs, just weeks after it came to light that a serial killer was seemingly on the loose murdering beggars using a brick stone.

Several beggars who were rounded up from Colombo and its its immediate suburbs were taken to the Maradana police today. Meanwhile eyewitnesses in Pitakote said that the police were seen loading beggars from the area into a truck yesterday.

The police have declared begging in public places as illegal and those rounded up are taken to a rehabilitation center in Ridiyagama, Hambantota.

Police sources said that there are certain organised groups behind the deployment of the beggars onto the streets and the police have launched investigations to crack down on this illegal racket.

Sources added that currently a beggar earns an estimated Rs.3000 a day by begging in public areas.

The police last week found the body of a disabled man near the Mount Lavinia police station with severe head injuries. The victim had been bashed to death using a stone.

The police had recovered a pack of sweep tickets in his possession and his cash collection is suspected to have been stolen by his attackers.

The police had last month recovered the bodies of five beggars at various locations in the city also with serious head injuries after being hit using a stone. Investigations are underway to ascertain if the murders are linked. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 57

appu Monday, 05 July 2010 11:24 AM

beggers are bugging.
they earn more than a bank officer.

Saradial Monday, 05 July 2010 08:48 AM

"organised groups behind the deployment of the beggars" yes some politicians may be behind this.

Rif Monday, 05 July 2010 08:57 AM

Govt may ask them to pay text they are getting more income than Govt officers

Janaka Monday, 05 July 2010 09:11 AM

What an incompetent police force we have

Jagath Monday, 05 July 2010 09:12 AM

Round up all the politicians in the same way & lock them up!!!

Dr.Watson Monday, 05 July 2010 09:23 AM

you have already declared the culprits with so much confidence..are you sherlock holmes??

LandLover Monday, 05 July 2010 09:26 AM

Rs. 3000/- a day is bit flattering... How did they take this survey????

GMJ Monday, 05 July 2010 10:02 AM

Glad to hear the rehab centers still exists!

Roshan Monday, 05 July 2010 10:17 AM

This is very good move by the Govt. Keep it up.

Padikaramaduwa, G Monday, 05 July 2010 10:28 AM

Able people beg; begable people work!

Practical Monday, 05 July 2010 10:43 AM

And we can call the colony as "Hingapore"

sanjaya Monday, 05 July 2010 10:50 AM

very near future you have to capture 75% of sri lanka population under the same theme if the things are going this way....

Bhathiya Waduge Monday, 05 July 2010 10:57 AM

Take me to this rehab too...

Bhathiya Waduge Monday, 05 July 2010 11:02 AM

Our Genius Police will put all the beggers to rehabilitation center in Ridiyagama, Hambantota and put the serial killer to same rehab. This the way they practice...

RajasH Monday, 05 July 2010 11:22 AM

if you cant catch the killer, blame the beggars.

Lal Hannadige Monday, 05 July 2010 08:45 AM

they are the most happy lot in Sri Lanka by earning RS 3000 per a day. no wander why there begging

J Dan Monday, 05 July 2010 11:31 AM

At the rate cost of living is sky rocketing they will be more and more beggrs. So bring down the Cost of living and the beggrs will be less

steve Monday, 05 July 2010 11:39 AM

There is nothing wrong in begging, look at our government the way they beg around the world..

Lokumalli Monday, 05 July 2010 12:34 PM

My goodness! Mention not any religion in this pursuit.

R.Dias Monday, 05 July 2010 12:52 PM

The sources say they earn Rs.3000 a day ? There will be many more at traffic lights and pavements from tomorrow onwards.

R.Dias Monday, 05 July 2010 12:55 PM

Better ask China to build camps as there will be many beggars to house who earn Rs.3000 a day ?????

R.Dias Monday, 05 July 2010 12:57 PM

My grand mother always said that it is always a beggar who chases and kills another beggar!!!!!!!!

R.Dias Monday, 05 July 2010 12:59 PM

They earn better than the Police Constables. Becareful we might find tem at traffic lights when off duty.

R.Dias Monday, 05 July 2010 01:01 PM

ha ha haaaa..................What a generous Rich Socially Responsible Society we have for beggars to earn Rs.3000 a day.

R.Dias Monday, 05 July 2010 01:02 PM

No wonder why the Govt decided to make Sri Lanka the " MIRACLE OF ASIA"

R.Dias Monday, 05 July 2010 01:09 PM

we howl about our proud history but go round the world begging ? because pride cannot fill our stomachs. It is same with beggars. But at least they are honest.

Wasantha Monday, 05 July 2010 01:16 PM

Why not pass an enactment in the parliament and and make the begging lawful. This tax oriented government can earn a huge amount of tax.

Thisahamy Monday, 05 July 2010 01:53 PM

What about the beggars who when begging for the GSP+. Will they too be removed someday!!!

Lankan Lion Monday, 05 July 2010 10:13 PM

SInce we have lost the GSP+ facility, more than 100,000 will be added to our total number of 'beggars.'

BUGGER Monday, 05 July 2010 08:14 AM

The story is not over yet

Gayan Samarasekara Monday, 05 July 2010 07:13 AM

I doubt whether the police will demand bribes from beggars too.

Jagath Monday, 05 July 2010 07:15 AM

Even beggers are not safe now a days!!!!

Lanka Atapattu Monday, 05 July 2010 07:19 AM

“Loading beggars into a truck” that do you think they will stop begging tomorrow? Or can stop the killer ...SL Police is this your ultimate solution ………………???

kcey Monday, 05 July 2010 07:20 AM

this is a good move... these beggars give a bad image to towns and it's a nuisance at times people come behind you asking money.
I wonder how they didnt get caught by the income tax dept..

SUMINA Monday, 05 July 2010 07:22 AM

THIS IS FOR THEIR PROTECTION OBVIOUSLY AS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE !

FIRAZ ANVER Monday, 05 July 2010 07:23 AM

Why doesn't the police arrest the "Beggars who go around from country to country with the begging bowl. Are they exceptions.

DHA Monday, 05 July 2010 07:30 AM

Please don't treat these beggars like drug addicts...what is happening in rehab centers ? ....wow 3000 a day i guess were are the real beggars in offices..... !!!...

Timmy Monday, 05 July 2010 07:32 AM

That's the spirit!

Way to go, really like this move of rehabilitating these people.

Thomas Monday, 05 July 2010 07:45 AM

Give them a housing colony and provide care for elders and prevent them fom coming on to streets to beg again

malkanthi Monday, 05 July 2010 07:57 AM

SO NOW IT IS LOUD AND CLEAR AS TO WHO ARE THE CULPRITS!!!!

Sue Monday, 05 July 2010 08:00 AM

Will there be more murders now?

ranjit Monday, 05 July 2010 08:08 AM

Yet another innovative method of the Police When one is murdered what the Police must do is to find the Murderer. Now here the Police takes in to the Custody the category of people who are being murdered. What will the police do if there is a serial killer who kills 18/20 year old girls. Put all 18/20 year olds in a one place to prevent them being killed.

ajith Monday, 05 July 2010 08:13 AM

This is a real menace. Its nice to see a city free of beggars. They beg in buses,trains,traffic light intersections,in front of supermarkets and all over. The beggar chiefs who sponsor them daily with food and transport need to be delt with.

saambrani Monday, 05 July 2010 07:10 AM

pls. take care of those children. Get those children used for display purpose on pavements in scorching sun and put them in a child care home. Those beggar parents cant take care of them anyway.

lankaman Monday, 05 July 2010 08:14 AM

police will lock up the beggars and they will go begging instead

commonsense Monday, 05 July 2010 08:15 AM

even beggars are not left in peace.. next time there is a burglary round up all the residents of that area and keep them locked up from the burglars..

Bluff Bluff Monday, 05 July 2010 08:18 AM

A sure sign of becoming the miracle of Asia in the near future. No place for beggars in miracles!

true lankan Monday, 05 July 2010 08:19 AM

60% of the total population will be in Hambantota, since we all are beggers now locally and internationally

Mohamed Shafraz Monday, 05 July 2010 08:21 AM

Beggar rehabilitation - yes its good.

Ruwan Monday, 05 July 2010 08:28 AM

It should started from somewhere. Its a nuisance. I am not against poor, but most of the beggars in the city are scammers who earns common man's one month's salary in one day, and waste them like government ministers, because it is not hard and justly earned money. Most of the time it will end up in drug dealer or beggar boss's pocket.

Good move. but keep it consistent and continuous.

suresh Monday, 05 July 2010 08:30 AM

i want to beg???

if we getting food & accommodation, after all we wont feel the cost of living LOL!!!!

malkanthi Monday, 05 July 2010 08:33 AM

Cleaning up the cities does not mean murder, there are many other resorts!!

Mushi Monday, 05 July 2010 08:34 AM

Already we are beggers internationally. Why can't we be beggers locally?

malkanthi Monday, 05 July 2010 08:38 AM

well said, we are begging diplomatically, but act is the same as the beggars!

malkanthi Monday, 05 July 2010 08:41 AM

'beggar earns an estimated Rs.3000 a day' that is about Rs.90,000/= a month. Well I dont mind doing it than a white collar job, earning peanuts a month!

Sanath R Monday, 05 July 2010 08:42 AM

If they are earning Rs 3000/- and more per day they are no more beggars. The real beggars are the middle class wage earners in offices.

Louisa Monday, 05 July 2010 08:45 AM

Police need to go undercover as beggars to trap & arrest this maniac or maniacs before more innocent lives are lost.

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Police roundup beggars

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