Law-enforcement officials have rounded up 82 people of various nationalities, including Arabs, as they were found begging. Those arrested include both men and women in different age groups. The arrests were made in different parts of the country, the Ministry of Interior said on its Twitter account yesterday. The anti-begging unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ministry made those arrests as begging is outlawed in the country and is a punishable offence. “Legal action has been taken against them,” the MoI said on its official Twitter account. The CID had earlier set up anti-begging patrol teams comprising men and women from the public security to crack down on beggars. The patrols worked round-the-clock during Ramadan, which is when a majority of beggars are commonly seen on the streets. Many of these beggars usually enter Qatar on tourist visas and begin exploiting people by taking advantage of their kindness, Brigadier Misfir Ali Al Hababi, Director of CID, said earlier. He said that the Department not only punishes beggars but also those who are responsible for bringing them to Qatar. Al Hababi said that the measures taken by the Ministry have helped to curb the menace in the country. He urged people to give their charities and donations to the known charitable institutions and organisations that are responsible for distributing donations among those who truly deserve it. The CID has also called on all Qataris and expatriates to cooperate with the law-enforcement officials on the issue of the beggars and call on 6641 4040, 234-7453 or 234-7444 to report such cases. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/249961-82-arrested-for-begging.html

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar