Raids to arrest ‘train beggars’

9 March 2015 04:08 pm - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Railway Department has initiated raids to arrest ‘train beggars’ in intercity and long distance trains today following a string of complaints by harassed commuters.

The Planning Director attached to the Railway Department Wijeya Samarasinghe said the arrests were launched by the Railway Security Service to put an end to the phenomenon of begging in the trains.

According to Mr. Samarasinghe, at the moment no arrests were reported since it was the first day and the raids would be implemented in all types of trains especially in office trains.

The raids had been started under the request of General Manager Wijeya Amaratunge, and the beggars would be produced in court after the arrests.

“Some beggars cause irritation to people. Most of them are well planned to exploit resources, to spread communicable diseases or to raise the crime rate. It is a violation of Sri Lanka Railways Authority Act. We have received considerable number of complaints from the train commuters asking for a proper solution,” he added. (Piyumi Fonseka)

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Comments - 9

USAGUY Tuesday, 10 March 2015 02:47 AM

Good move. Also get rid of all those peanut sellers and fish mongers from all trains.

Neville Tuesday, 10 March 2015 03:18 AM

Do not arrest the large scale looters and always compromise with them, but only arrest beggers, Is it the policy of this government just as the previous.

simon Tuesday, 10 March 2015 04:20 AM

This is easy target than arresting the real culprits.

Cobra Tuesday, 10 March 2015 06:34 AM

They and the above mentioned vendors are a nuisance alright but they are people too and more unfortunate than we are so please treat them as humans!

ranga Tuesday, 10 March 2015 06:41 AM

What have we done on the 8th Jan???elected a President, a PM and a cabinet for this while all the burning issues are unaddressed...Impressive...in fact very impressive...

pradeep Tuesday, 10 March 2015 10:14 AM

The government must pass a bill in parliament to ban begging as there are big time mudalalis who are behind these rackets. Our people are becoming lazy to earn a descent as there are plenty of opportunities to earn a descent living.

Sue Tuesday, 10 March 2015 11:47 AM

Please stop this menace in buses too.

Jayan Tuesday, 10 March 2015 12:49 PM

Not only the beggars, vendors also should be band from entering trains and buses.

Fox Tuesday, 10 March 2015 02:11 PM

How about the Political Beggars - who loot the countries Now Files in the Bribery Commission and Drug Dealers who make the Young Beg for Drugs

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Raids to arrest ‘train beggars’

Comments - 9

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