50,000 beggars to flood the city

JAKARTA: The city administration announced on Tuesday that it would launch a public order operation against beggars who are expected to flood the city during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

Acting Governor Abdul Kahfi estimated that as in last year's fasting month, around 50,000 beggars are expected to enter the city. They will be told to return to their hometowns.

"If they refuse to go home, we will arrest them and forcibly take them to their hometowns," Kahfi, who is also deputy governor for administrative affairs, told reporters at City Hall.

He said the public order operation, which would take place in public places such as railway stations, bus terminals and cross roads, would start one week before the beginning of the fasting month.

Besides the operation against beggars, Kahfi said the administration would also launch an operation against firecrackers during Ramadhan.

"Firecrackers are still not allowed in the city. They disturb the religious activities during Ramadhan," he said.

He told the city's five mayors to conduct raids against firecracker' trading in their respective municipalities. --JP