NEW DELHI: In a first-of-its-kind case in Madhya Pradesh, the Indore police have registered an FIR against an unidentified person for giving alms to a beggar in India’s cleanest city.
The case was filed under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with disobedience to orders issued by a public servant, based on a complaint by an officer of the Beggary Eradication Team.
The administration, aiming to make Indore the country’s first beggar-free city, has banned accepting alms, giving alms, and buying goods from beggars. Violating this ban can result in an FIR being registered against the offender.
Under BNS section 223, the guilty can be punished with imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to Rs 5,000 or both.
The administration has also announced a reward of Rs 1,000 to those giving a tip-off about begging and many people have received the amount so far for sharing inputs, according to officials.
Indore is part of a pilot project initiated by the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment to make 10 cities across the country beggar-free. The city administration has set a target to achieve this goal and has taken strict measures to enforce the ban on begging and almsgiving.
The case against the unknown person for giving alms to a female beggar sitting in front of a temple on Khandwa Road highlights the seriousness with which the authorities are tackling the issue of begging in Indore.