Vinod M Jain
Following the gruesome incident of a 24-year-old transgender woman who was allegedly kidnapped, assaulted,unlawfully detained,and had her head forcibly shaved by members of her own community in a suspected dispute over gharana affiliation in Bengaluru, city based organization working for gender and sexual minorities,demanded government action to contain such incidents in future .
The incident reportedly took place between October 30 and 31,and the victim has been identified as Sukanya,a resident of Roopena Agrahara in Viratanagara,under the jurisdiction of the Bommanahalli Police Station.
According to preliminary information,Sukanya was abducted from Krishnarajapuram around 3 pm.on October 30 and taken to Roopena Agrahara,where she was allegedly beaten with a wooden stick and a ladle throughout the night.
The assailants reportedly told her she must remain in their gharana for life and should not join another.Her head was then forcibly shaved,purportedly to“erase her identity as a woman,”and she was detained until around 1:30 pm. on October 31.
Following the intervention of Sangama and the Movement for Gender and Sexual Pluralism (MGSP), police rescued Sukanya.An FIR has been registered,and an investigation is underway.
In a joint statement,Sangama and MGSP condemned the “brutal assault, kidnapping, and humiliation”of Sukanya, describing it as a gross violation of human rights.
They also expressed concern that the victim continues to face threats from the same group even after her rescue.
The organisations noted that while the hijra gharana system has historically provided shelter,identity,and livelihood to transgender persons, acts of violence, coercion, and exploitation within the system “undermine its traditional spirit of care and solidarity.”
Sangama and MGSP said they are extending legal, medical, psychosocial, and safety support to Sukanya and have urged the police and state authorities to ensure her protection and take swift legal action against those responsible.
They also appealed to the Karnataka Department of Women and Child Development to collaborate with organisations working for gender and sexual minorities to prevent similar incidents and uphold the rights and dignity of transgender persons across the state.
