Seeking money in name of Conflict, Beggars bring bad name to Kashmir

“We are from border area (Kashmir), our houses shops, factories and colleges have been closed by four months strike in J&K,” reads the pamphlet used by these persons. “We request you to help us because this is genuine case and you are our Indian brothers,” the pamphlet reads.

A few groups of people from north Kashmir are posing as victims of Kashmir conflict in Mumbai, seeking charity and bringing bad name to the state.
These beggars frequent around residential areas, colleges, hospitals asking for money by narrating concocted tales. Documents and photographs available with Kashmir Post reveal that these groups are from Kamthimag village, Magam Tangmarg, and Jumatari Manigah, Kupwara. They have named their makeshift tents as Jammu and Kashmir Strike Camp, displaying phone numbers 9419066791 and 7006904033.
“We are from border area (Kashmir), our houses shops, factories and colleges have been closed by four months strike in J&K,” reads the pamphlet used by these persons. “We request you to help us because this is genuine case and you are our Indian brothers,” the pamphlet reads.
A family of Manigah Kupwara is using their children to collect money. Their wards use the marks cards issued by Government Boys High School Manigah Kupwara for begging, pretending to be students who couldn’t complete their education due to conflict.
A family from Kamthimag Magam Tangmarg headed by Ghulam Mohidin Wani (38) s/o Abdul Rahim Wani also shares bank account number with the people, asking them to deposit money in the account. As this reporter, without revealing identification, contacted Wani on phone, he said: “I am in Mumbai and people here are donating to help us. I was rendered homeless during 2014 floods.” Asked he is collecting money in the name of conflict, he said: “Yes, and if you want to help me, you can transfer money to my account SB-94311 J&K Bank branch Magam.”
The children of these families are concocting stories as “how militants burnt our houses and educational institutions,” a group of Kashmiris told Kashmir Post over phone from Mumbai.
These beggars are increasingly being recognized as frauds by outsiders too. “In a Masjid they claim to be victims of army and in a temple they gather donations by claiming to be victims of militants,” said Showkat Ahmad, a Kashmiri who often visits Mumbai in connection with his business.

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