(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) At least 29 beggars who had entered Dubai on visit visas to make the most of the holy month of Ramadan - with one turning down a job offer - have been arrested as part of the Dubai Police's Ramadan anti-begging campaign.
All those caught came on visit visas and were nabbed just before Iftar in different areas of Dubai including Abu Hail, Naif and especially near mosques. Police said some beggars, especially women, were found begging in narrow streets of the markets. The beggars often beg before Maghrib and Taraweeh prayers as they think no policemen would be around at that time. One person said he had offered a beggar a job but the man refused and left the scene.
In one such case, a beggar had kept fliers on car windscreens saying "Please help me", along with a mobile number. The police arrested the beggar who confessed to keeping the fliers on the cars, and was transferred to the Dubai Public Prosecution.
Colonel Rashid bin Saree, Director of the General Department of Tourism Security at the Dubai Police, said that police and civil patrols would be deployed near mosques before Iftar to prevent them from spreading at this time, pointing out the beggars often insisted on money and stared at wallets to make people feel for them and give them more money.
Some people have complained that they had received angry responses from beggars if they gave them Dh10. Bin Saree stated that though a number of arrested claimed to be sick all were found to be in good health, but came to the UAE on visit visa to beg during Ramadan.
Bin Saree urged the public to cooperate with police to overcome this phenomenon by calling 800234 or tweeting the Dubai Police if they come across a beggar who was exploiting the goodness of UAE nationals during Ramadan in order to get more money.
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