Stop Menace Of Fake Hijras, Government Urged

Members of the Hijra Transgender Welfare Society on Wednesday alleged that gangs of "fake" eunuchs were defaming the whole hijra and transgender society and traditions by their illegal activities across the city.

Speaking to mediapersons, some 150 members of the society said that some greedy men were dressing up their wives and children as eunuchs and getting them to forcibly collect money from pedestrians and vehicle-drivers at busy roads and circles.

They alleged that such fake transgender people were also indulging in prostitution and robberies, and generally running amok in the city.

G Krishna, a representative of the society, said that the criminals were not only forcing children and youth from poor families to become eunuchs, they were also giving money to poor youth to undergo castration and then using them to make money by forcing them to beg, engage in sexual activities and avail themselves of micro-financing against high interest rates. Many of those forcibly trapped into the heinous trade had committed suicide to escape from the mafia, he said.

He also said that a gang of seven members, who were the main ones behind this mafia, were arrested by the city police recently. He urged the police to slap strong cases against them and see that they didn't get bail, he said.

Another member of the society Shabeera also said that people were starting to feel afraid of eunuchs as fake eunuch gangs were creating a nuisance on the roads and at busy junctions by aggressive begging and vulgar acts. She said that genuine hijras followed a sacred tradition. "We have morals, and don't beg or collect money forcibly on the roads. These anti-social elements are posing a danger to society. The police should take stringent action against this mafia," she said.