Tamil Nadu Police's crackdown on networks forcing children to beg

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu police adopt strict action against organised networks that force children into begging. It created a helpline for the public to inform the law about such acts or report children begging, IANS reports.

The number '044-28447701', started by the police, could be used to report if children are spotted in such situations. The police announced that the provided information would be kept confidential and informers would be awarded cash prizes.

The police initiated a drive against begging on Saturday and Sunday, rounding up 1,300 beggars in the state. The drive was under the order of Director General of Police (DGP), C. Sylendrababu after information was received that four people were dressing up a mentally unstable person as 'Vibhuti Siddhar' (a person covered fully with holy ash) in Karur. The person has been roaming around in Karur for the past ten years at Malaikovilur at Aruvarakurichi in the Karur district. The person was given shelter by a group of social activists.

IANS learned that a couple of months ago, a few people from Karur took this person to a vacant land of the government and made a makeshift shed for him. He was then covered with full holy ash and then named ' Vibhuti Siddhar' and started collecting cash in his name.

A complaint was lodged by the social activists who had earlier rescued him, and police, on the investigation, found that four persons were trying to collect money in the name of the insane person after applying 'vibhuti' on him. A medical test was conducted on the person, and it was found that the person was mentally unstable.