There is a 'beggars mafia' in the town and the Hyderabad police have started rounding them up. Hyderabad Commissioner of Police CV Anand has stated that cases of extortion have been booked against several able-bodied, young males who are resorting to harassment at traffic junctions in the name of begging. Legal provisions have been invoked against the brains and organizers behind the mafia. The handlers of beggars have been traced to other States.
Police task forces have been deployed to chase the begging gangs across Hyderabad. Coordinations have been done with the neighbouring commissionerates.
There is another mafia at work. "Similar to the begging mafia, another set of groups have been indulging in not only fake and organized begging but also going to residences of people where functions are on. These groups are harassing, browbeating and extorting huge amounts by posing as Transgenders. In an investigation, it has been revealed that able-bodied males are dressing up as transgenders and undertaking this extortion, which again means organized crime," CV Anand said.
Those who face harassment have been advised to complain to the police by dialing 100.
