Muscat: In an intensified campaign against the social evil of begging, the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) conducted 1,222 inspections during the month of June and rounded up 330 beggars.

Of the total arrested, 180 were males. The anti-begging team from the ministry arrested them mostly from Muscat, Dhofar, North and South Batinah and Buraimi.

The ministry stated that of the total, 84 were Omanis (55 males and rest females), and 246 were expatriates (125 males and rest females).

It also said that of the arrested, 31 were under the age of 12, and 19 were between the age of 12 and 18 years and 128 were in the age group of 18-40 years. While 102 were in the age group of 40-60 years, 50 beggars were aged above 60.

The highest number of arrests were made in Muscat (213), followed by North and South Batinah (79), Buraimi (28) Sharqiyah (4), Dhofar (3), Dakhiliyah (2) and Dhahirah (1).