Mangaluru: For a long time, there have been rumours that not all the transgenders seeking alms at various spots in the city are who they project they are. Now, one social worker has got definite proof to substantiate these rumours and the expose has gone viral as a result.
Social worker and activist Sowraj recently caught two men red-handed in a video that was posted on Facebook, posing as transgendered people duping the general public at Kadri Park here in the city.
There have been many complaints, over the recent past, regarding men posing as transgendered people, harassing others and begging for money in public places. These complaints got a more powerful backing when Sowraj caught two of these alleged conmen on video red-handed. In the live video that has now gone viral, the two men can be seen wearing wigs and dressed up as transgendered men. One of the men remains silent while the other stumbles over himself looking for ways to evade Sowraj’s questions. The latter keeps trying to escape while the former is at a loss of words.
One of these men has been identified as Gopi, hailing from Bihar and the other alleged conman claims to hail from Madikeri. These details about the men are yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to NewsKarnataka, Sowraj said, “I am not against those who are the real transgenders. I will oppose only those fake transgenders who are engaged in looting the public under the pretext. Someone has informed me that the fake transgenders whom I exposed, are now trying to file a complaint against me. As I have video footage of the fake transgenders and their illegal activities, I hope the police will not file an FIR. If they succeed in filing a case against me, I will also file a complaint against them as they are cheating the public. Besides that, the real transgenders are also against these fake transgenders and they are supporting me.”
When reached for a comment on the issue, Commissioner of Police T R Suresh Kumar said, “I am unaware of this issue of fake transgenders and their illegal activities. I will look into it and take proper measures to ensure that no one is being harassed by anyone pretending to be a transgendered person.”
Nikhil, president of Nava Sahaja Sexual Minority Committee, informed NewsKarnataka that one of the transgendered persons in the video, known as Shreya in their community has had a very troubled past.
Shreya’s family committed suicide two years back because of the endosulfan case after which she started consuming alcohol. The committee members got in contact with her and tried to help her get better. “What Sowraj did is wrong. He should have taken them to the police station or speak to them, instead of attacking them by pulling their wigs and clothes. There are many categories of transgender. Some don’t grow their hair out or get a surgery done. They wear wigs. This does not mean that they are fake transgenders,” Nikhil said.
Nikhil also said that, while they had been to the Kadri Police Station, an FIR was not filed. They also informed that they would be approaching the Human Rights Commission to file a complaint regarding the incident.
Sanjana, a transgendered person from Mangaluru told NewsKarnataka, “Sowraj has done a good job as the activities of fake transgenders are a black mark on the real transgenders. Fake transgenders always indulge in illegal activities like pickpocketing, harassing the public etc. Police should catch them and allow us to live a dignified life in the society.”
Those who travel a lot outside the city know of men who pose as transgendered persons at toll gates in Mulki and other places, where cars sometimes line up during peak rush hours. Here, the fake transgendered persons are even known to bang on the windows of vehicles and demand money. Some of the commuters are afraid to rebuke or refuse them for fear of inviting a curse upon themselves. Some cultures in India believe that Transgendered people or Hijadas, as they are more commonly known, possess supernatural powers and can either curse or bless someone depending on how they are treated. Fake transgenders take advantage of this and use it to extort money from people or pick their pockets, giving a bad name to the actual transgendered people.
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