By The Public TV Editorial Board
Tangmarg has long stood as the silent, scenic sentinel to Gulmarg. For decades, it has been the first breath of mountain air for travelers and a hub of local hospitality. However, a shadow is falling over this transit town one that isn’t cast by the Pir Panjal peaks, but by a burgeoning, aggressive, and seemingly organized begging syndicate that is now holding the town’s outskirts hostage.
The Loss of Public Space
What is happening on the outskirts of Tangmarg is no longer a matter of simple charity or individual hardship. It has evolved into a daily confrontation. Residents and tourists report being “grabbed,” followed, and harassed. This physical persistence is a departure from the traditional social fabric of the valley. When a tourist cannot step out of a vehicle without being mobbed, the very essence of Kashmiriyat our famed hospitality is at stake.
The Legal Vacuum
The irony of the situation lies in the existing legal framework. While the J&K Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 was designed to curb this, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act strictly prohibits the exploitation of children for alms, enforcement in Tangmarg seems to be in a state of suspended animation.
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The Juvenile Crisis: We see infants being used as props in the biting cold. This is not just begging; it is a human rights violation that the Social Welfare Department and local police must address under the Section 76 of the JJ Act.
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The Syndicate Theory: The coordinated arrival of these groups in the morning and their departure by evening suggests a managed operation. Why has there been no investigation into the “handlers” who are dropping these individuals at strategic tourist hotspots?
Economic Consequences
For a region where the economy is inextricably linked to the reputation of its tourist spots, this “menace” is a direct economic threat. A tourist who feels harassed in Tangmarg is a tourist who will warn others against stopping there. We are essentially allowing a small group of organized panhandlers to sabotage the livelihoods of hundreds of local taxi drivers, hoteliers, and shopkeepers.
Our Demand
The administration cannot afford to look the other way. We don’t need sporadic “drives” that clear the streets for forty-eight hours only for the groups to return on the third day.
The Public TV calls for:
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Permanent Police Outposts: Dedicated patrolling at the specific “grabbing” hotspots in the outskirts.
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Strict Prosecution of Handlers: Move beyond arresting the beggars and target the syndicates transporting them.
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Signage & Awareness: Clear communication for tourists on how to report harassment to the local SDM, Tehsildar or Police station.
Tangmarg is the gateway to our pride, Gulmarg. It is time the Baramulla administration treated it with the administrative seriousness it deserves. We must reclaim our streets from this menace before the gateway to the mountains becomes a gateway to harassment.