Beggars, pickpockets mar Urs festivities at Ajmer

Ajmer, Aug 2 (UNI) Pilgrims at Khwaja Maisuddin Chisti are facing harassment at the hands of hoards beggars and pickpockets during the ongoing annual Urs.

According to the dargah police station around 25 complaints of pickpockets are being lodged everyday. However, the unofficial figures are close to 500. Costly mobiles are among the most commonly picked.

''Thousands of beggars, fakir, pickpockets have positioned themselves in the area around Ajmer Sharif to rob and loot unsuspecting clients in this six-day festival,'' a source said.

Pickpockets from the entire country congregate at Ajmer during the Urs. A meeting of pickpockets is held before the event where the contract for pickpocketing is given to the highest bidder, the source claimed.

As the 'ziyarins', (pilgrims) emerge from the 'mazaar', a group of beggars gather and 'gherao' the devotee which often leads to a scuffle costing the devotees their valuables.

Although the district administration clears the 'dargah' area of the anti social elements every year before the Urs begins, the exercise seems a mere formality.

Several RAF jawans and thousands of policemen posted in the area do not seem to be of much help and at times remain mute spectators to the ill-treatment of the 'ziyarins' at the hands of the beggars.

However, most people don't lodge their complaints with the police. Only those who are in dire straits after being robbed ask for help from the dargah committee and the Garib Nawaz Sufi Mission Society, souces said.

Dargah Nazim Abdul Aalim said they receive around 50-60 complaints everyday and help the needy.

The chief of Garib Nazwaz Sufi Mission, Zulfikar Chisti said they have received 1,000 requests for financial help from 'ziyarins' who have been robbed of everything in the last four days. The mission helped them to buy railway tickets and even provided them some cash amount.

Though the police claim to have arrested around 75 pickpockets, the menace continues.

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