Ahead of the G20 Meet supposed to be held in Nagpur, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nagpur Police, helmed by Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, have begun clearing the streets off beggars and other homeless living over three decades.

Nagpur Police had issued an order prohibiting beggars from gathering at places like traffic junctions, footpaths, traffic islands and dividers in the city amid rising complaints of harassment of motorists and pedestrians. The order was issued on Wednesday under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which bans the gathering of four or more people in a particular area.

As per the order, under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), offenders could face upto six-month jail along with fine.  As per the order issued by Kumar, the restrictions got into effect from March 9 till April 30 ‘unless withdrawn earlier by the issuing authority.’  

Kumar said the order was issued due to several underlying issues and not just the upcoming G20 summit on March 19-20 and C20 meetings. 

Officials said apart from the inconvenience faced by commuters and walkers, there were also complaints of beggars obstructing the smooth flow of traffic and causing public nuisance.

Nagpur Police claimed that nearly 200 beggars had left the city on day one after Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar, on Wednesday, issued a notification that banned begging in the city from Friday, March 9.

Kumar claimed that beggars stationed at Kasturchand Park and Yeshwant Stadium vacated both the premises after they were told about the order of ban on begging. 

However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Deputy Commissioner Prakash Warade said the civic body manages seven shelters for the homeless where several beggars would be sheltered. Kumar said beggars at Meetha Neem Dargah were relocated to shelter homes too.

Indian Express quoted one of the members of the Pardhi community, who was forced to leaved Nagpur. It stated, “We were told that many ‘videshi’ (foreigners) will be visiting the city and so we must leave. We were told we could return two months later.”

She told the same publication that she lived with at least 10 other families at Yashwant Stadium for over three decades and was told by officials that they could return after two months.

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Nagpur Police claimed that nearly 200 beggars had left the city on day one after Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar, on Wednesday, issued a notification that banned begging in the city from Friday, March 9.

Kumar claimed that beggars stationed at Kasturchand Park and Yeshwant Stadium vacated both the premises after they were told about the order of ban on begging. 

However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Deputy Commissioner Prakash Warade said the civic body manages seven shelters for the homeless where several beggars would be sheltered. Kumar said beggars at Meetha Neem Dargah were relocated to shelter homes too.

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