Delhi cops to crackdown on 'begging mafia'

New Delhi, July 10: The Delhi Police is all set to crack down on the 'begging mafia' operating in the national capital, despite the state government claiming there is no such organised racket in the city.

The operation will be led by the Crime Branch, which had earlier worked on initiatives like reuniting missing children with their parents, a senior police official said.

The official said not much can be disclosed about the operation "at this point" but we have some crucial leads and teams are working on that.

However, a senior Delhi government official said several studies have been undertaken till date to ascertain the veracity of the claims about existence of the begging mafia, but no conclusive evidence could be found.

It was during the Commonwealth Games in 2010 that a special team was formed by the Provisions and Logistics unit of Delhi Police to relocate beggars from certain areas.

Officials involved in the operation had first sniffed begging rackets run by criminal elements in the city. However, there was no follow up action to track them down, the official said.

PTI