Rescued Hyderabad & Kanpur ‘beggars’ sent to judicial custody

BHOPAL: There’s a twist in the case of women beggars from Hyderabad and Kanpur reportedly involved in child trafficking. Though the women beggars claimed to be Christians, they wore ‘mangalsutras’ and ‘bichiyas’, traditionally worn by married Hindu women. They even donned burqas while begging. Twenty-one women from Hyderabad and Kanpur were produced before the court on Sunday where the jury ordered for judicial remand of the beggars until their identities were proven.
“Though the women have Aadhaar cards, we are not sure if they are real or forged.Since they have given us such contradictory statements, we are not sure what to believe. They are wearing jewellery worn by Hindu women and have Hindu names. They are saying they are Christians but do not visit the churches of Bhopal. They also wear burqas when they go out to beg with children sleeping in the wheelchair,” said Archana Sahaye, director of Childline.
Childline also told TOI that one of the women was living in Bhopal since 2018. She also has a house in Hyderabad and her children study in a missionary school. She is separated from her husband. “A lady called Lakshmi confessed to living in Bhopal since one year. A man claiming to be her ex-husband came to meet us a few days ago. The woman has single-handedly bought a house with the alms she gets and also sends her children to St Paul's school in Hyderabad, where they stay in a hostel,” added Sahaye.
A medical check-up of all the 44 children from Hyderabad and Kanpur was held on Sunday. After the medical check-up, the adults were produced before the court. Section 11 of the MP Beggary Act and Section 370 of the IPC were also added to the FIR and the jury ordered for judicial remand till such time the case is under investigation.
Pradeep Valmiki, SHO of Bajaria thana, who is looking into the case, said, “The adults have been taken to jail as ordered by the court. They will be kept in judicial remand till June
8. In the meanwhile, the SIT will visit the addresses they have given to us for verification.”