Hyderabad: Central Zone police picked up around 566 whitener addicts, ragpickers, and other homeless people from the streets to create their profiles for a database. Police say the drive is conducted to improve security in public places.

Zonal DCP Kamalasan Reddy said that the police had collected their fingerprints, photographs and other details and prepared a database. He said that it is to increase safety in public places like parks bus stations, railway station, and others.

The men were picked up from various parks like Public Garden, bus stations and other main streets. Officials say that they sleep and spend time near the commercial establishments and sometimes thefts take place.

Since they do not have a residence, even if they are involved in an offence, it’s difficult to track them down. The whitener addicts and petty offenders at parks also create trouble for the visitors.

Police officials counselled them, gave them lunch and let them off. Sources from police department said that police might also use these people as informants to catch burglars.