Transgender flesh trade: MLA ups ante
Kadam along with his bodyguards started doing rounds in his Jaguar on Saturday night and nabbed transgenders on the roads. Later, the police joined him and caught three transgenders, who were allegedly waiting for customers.
Recently, Khar residents had written to Vishwas Nangre Patil, additional commissioner of police (west region), against the presence of transgenders on roads. "They are into flesh business and behave indecently. We have asked the police to take strict action against such people but nothing has been done yet. In the past, only prostitutes were a problem but now gigolos, gays and transgenders are a bigger problem," said Aftab Siddiqui, activist and resident of Khar.
Kadam said Pratap Dighavkar, deputy commissioner of police, has promised to form a special squad to take action against transgenders. "The DCP promised that he is going to start a drive. It is very embarrassing to be stopped by these people," said Kadam.
The police picked up three transgenders, who were booked under section 110 (obscenity) of Mumbai Police Act. "The trio was released after paying fine. Kadam lodged a complaint with us and strict action will be taken against all transgenders and gays, who stand on the roads for flesh business," said Madhukar Chowdhary, senior police inspector of the Santa Cruz police station.
Eunuchs attack railway ticket collectors
ANANTAPUR: Two ticket collectors (TC) suffered serious injuries as two eunuchs attacked them in a train near Hindupur railway station on Friday evening. The TCs were taken to the hospital and the eunuchs arrested. After they were taken into police custody, the eunuchs alleged that the TCs tried to abuse them sexually.
The eunuchs attacked the TCs with blades, when the latter asked them to produce their tickets. One of them, N Murthy suffered serious injuries. The eunuchs -- Sangeetha of Tadipatri and Fiza of Hindupur - got into S3 coach of Prasanthi Express at Yelahanka station near Bangalore without tickets. Both of them started teasing passengers with lewd gestures.
Vexed with their behaviour, some of the passengers informed the TCs -- K V Babu and Murthy - who told the eunuchs to get down at Gowribidnur station. Angered over this, they attacked the TCs. By the time the TCs and other passengers could react, the accused rushed to S1 coach.
When the train stopped at Hindupur, the railway police caught hold of the eunuchs. The injured TCs filed a complaint with Dharmavaram railway police as there was no inspector at Hindupur railway police station. Curiously, Sangeetha and Fiza said they attacked the TCs only to protect themselves from sexual abuse.
Readers' opinions
Mohammed (Delhi)
20 Nov, 2011 01:13 AM
Eunuchs in India have more guts than the common men. India needs more eunuchs to get rid of the congress dynasty for once and for all...
20 Nov, 2011 01:13 AM
Eunuchs in India have more guts than the common men. India needs more eunuchs to get rid of the congress dynasty for once and for all...
Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha (Clinton, USA)
19 Nov, 2011 11:57 PM
There are some ancient practices of India that should come to an end. Some of them being the Thuggee movement which the British took out in the 19th century, dowry, the caste system as it is today, forced child marriages, the treatment of widows, to Eunuchs. Eunuchs are present across the world but nowhere are they such a present danger as in India.
19 Nov, 2011 11:57 PM
There are some ancient practices of India that should come to an end. Some of them being the Thuggee movement which the British took out in the 19th century, dowry, the caste system as it is today, forced child marriages, the treatment of widows, to Eunuchs. Eunuchs are present across the world but nowhere are they such a present danger as in India.
Sameer (India)
19 Nov, 2011 11:22 PM
Railway officials should take some action for for Jnaneswari Deluxe Express and Howrah Mail whose Departure Time is 7.00 hrs. late, on daily basis, continuously going on from last more than a Year, neither Indian Railway tries to find out the harassment faced by the passengers nor any passengers Associations, whole night passengers wait for 7.00 hours with small children and aged on rail platforms. I hope this comment reaches upto Mr.Dinesh Trivedi.
19 Nov, 2011 11:22 PM
Railway officials should take some action for for Jnaneswari Deluxe Express and Howrah Mail whose Departure Time is 7.00 hrs. late, on daily basis, continuously going on from last more than a Year, neither Indian Railway tries to find out the harassment faced by the passengers nor any passengers Associations, whole night passengers wait for 7.00 hours with small children and aged on rail platforms. I hope this comment reaches upto Mr.Dinesh Trivedi.
Dinesh (India)
19 Nov, 2011 11:17 PM
Either the RSS should take steps either the full of india will be full of hisjada
tinku (Bombay) replies to Dinesh
19 Nov, 2011 11:42 PM
So you mean RSS will be able to handle hijdas efficiently because they have experience and themselves have lot of them ?
Tam (Delhi) replies to tinku
20 Nov, 2011 12:45 AM
you people should be ashamed...u cant be true Indian....you are abusing the most nationalist organization in the country....Media never shows what real RSS is...RSS is running 1 lakh schools across India in most backward districts...
19 Nov, 2011 11:17 PM
Either the RSS should take steps either the full of india will be full of hisjada
tinku (Bombay) replies to Dinesh
19 Nov, 2011 11:42 PM
So you mean RSS will be able to handle hijdas efficiently because they have experience and themselves have lot of them ?
Tam (Delhi) replies to tinku
20 Nov, 2011 12:45 AM
you people should be ashamed...u cant be true Indian....you are abusing the most nationalist organization in the country....Media never shows what real RSS is...RSS is running 1 lakh schools across India in most backward districts...
Mohit (SAUDI ARABIA)
11 hrs ago (11:16 PM)
11 hrs ago (11:16 PM)
I was travelling from chennai to mumbai with my family and i swore to god never i will travel by train with my family for following reasons. 1. The canteen attenders was staring at my daughter and my wife all the time and would come and sit every now and then. 2. Beggers would come on an average at least every half an hour to forty five minutes. If we dont give them money they will keep irritating us till we oblige. 3. Other travellers would occupy our berth saying that since we are not using they can as well use them. 4. Unreserved passengers would talk all nonsense explaining all illogical things and try to occupy whatever vacant space is available. 5. Other copassengers would use his mobile in full volume listening to music as if he thinks it his birthright to do so. 6.Lastly these eunuchs come in groups and leave us making us feel eunuchs as we are unable to do anything to stop them. 7. The TTR is also a mute spectator to all these happenings. What to do this is india and we love our india.
Were is VHP, RSS, BAJRANG DAL . I think either they all are hijras or they are getting money from these people. For small issue these parties make a issue for non issue why these hijaras like vijapayee are keeping quite
DG (Mumbai)
12 hrs ago (09:53 PM)
12 hrs ago (09:53 PM)
I Have also seen this misbehaviour by eunuchs happening on this route...And some of eunuchs on that route are really bad.....They should be punished...
tj (Punjab)
14 hrs ago (08:00 PM)
14 hrs ago (08:00 PM)
TTEs and RPF are no better than eunuchs.Every TTE, RPF official, eunuch and illegal hawker earns thousands every day.They are all extorting money from passengers.Shame on Indian Railways, Railways ministers and bureaucrats who are worse than eunuchs!
Fact (Vijayawada) replies to Think positively
9 hrs ago (01:15 AM)
9 hrs ago (01:15 AM)
Dear Positive, fact is that most of these enuchs has good families. Most of 'em healthy men and took this 'profession' as 'easy route to money' with zero investment. A decade back, auction rates of 'areas' in Vijayawada used to be beyond 1 lakh, similarly Railways (categorized by Train numbers). They are always abusive and arrogant and rude and sometimes drunk.
ANNA (Bangalore) replies to Think positively
12 hrs ago (09:58 PM)wake up loser...they are NOT willing to work anywhere..they just want to USE their body to earn money the easy way
12 hrs ago (09:58 PM)wake up loser...they are NOT willing to work anywhere..they just want to USE their body to earn money the easy way
srk (railway train traffic signal child birth) replies to Think positively
14 hrs ago (07:53 PM)
14 hrs ago (07:53 PM)
go and suck eunuch nipples
saleem (hyderabad)
15 hrs ago (06:43 PM)
15 hrs ago (06:43 PM)
What non sense that the ticket collectors abused those bloody eunuchs. All of us know how abusive these eunuchs are. I myself have experienced quite a many times on trains. They should not be allowed to be on train and go on harassing passengers. They start abusing if you deny paying them good money and they dictate you how much you need to pay. Railways should find a way to get rid of this menace once forever
wali (uk for now)
15 hrs ago (06:35 PM)
15 hrs ago (06:35 PM)
I almost got angry with one once when she was giving me change on train to delhi from bhopal but she gave me money so no problem was buying socks from another seller. I can imagine they might get beaten up badly at some point in their lifes. Most if not all had no choice in their castration as children, sad backward practise and against god.
Anil (Mumbai)
15 hrs ago (06:26 PM)
15 hrs ago (06:26 PM)
When railway police is in cahoot with eunuchs, this was expected. Eunuchs have a free run of the railways and without connivance of GRP they would not board a train like Frontier Mail.
John (Mumbai)
16 hrs ago (06:18 PM)
16 hrs ago (06:18 PM)
Eunuchs are behaving exactly like our politicans and Mr Digvijay Singh as the Congress Party Secretary General should encourage them to join their Party.They will prove to be an assets to the Party
Paul (Dubai)
16 hrs ago (05:45 PM)
16 hrs ago (05:45 PM)
Stupid laws allowing these eunuchs into trains - the railway authority is foolish - and sick also by allowing beggars - why not post black cat commandos on every long distance train - to ensure the safety of the passengers. Time is come not to be playing with dumb laws that have no meaning - this is nuclear age - action is required by the sleeping authorities.
sathi (Trichy)
17 hrs ago (05:12 PM)
17 hrs ago (05:12 PM)
It is very rare in Tamilnadu to find the menacing Hijras previously,but now their brand of terror begging became common. It is very embarrassing to face their verbal onslaughts when family members are around(sensing helplessness at those times they demand more vigorously).
SP (India) replies to sathi
16 hrs ago (05:37 PM)
16 hrs ago (05:37 PM)
Go to Chennai Central Station and you will find lot of such people (in groups)forcing passengers to pay them.
Prabha (Bangalore)
17 hrs ago (04:27 PM)
17 hrs ago (04:27 PM)
Transgenders continuously travel in groups in most trains and train stations abusing men. They are able to do this only because the Railway Protection Force dont bother them. How can the RPF protect us from terrorists if they cant protect the general public from such abusive transgenders? They need to take serious and elaborate action all over India specially at Bangalore/bangalore yashwantpura and bangalore-madras route.
seshadri (Dubai)
18 hrs ago (04:12 PM)
18 hrs ago (04:12 PM)
Indian Railways organisation is a very poorly managed and secured public property in India. Travelling public has no security as the trains can stop anywhere on the traks for a number of reasons, most of which is due to signalling issues. No railway station is secured. Anyway can walk through the gates. Why don't the Railways install ticket checking machines at each station, for both inward and outward movements, thus avoiding ticketless travel. Even in reserved compartments, there are too many beggars, vendors walking around with the connivance of railway officials. As long as these are permitted, not only attack on passengers, destruction of railway property, and harm to railway officials will continue to happen. The Railway Protection Force is nothing but guards at goods sheds. Instead of creating unnecessary employment, better management principles should be deployed.
kuttan (hyderabad)
18 hrs ago (04:09 PM)
18 hrs ago (04:09 PM)
The railways couldn't stop these eunuches and beggars of which 90% are criminals. The beggar who raped and killed Somuya in kerala got an advocate for 10lakhs.The mafia behind , payed for it as they feared if some High vourt might come against them
srikant (ind)
19 hrs ago (02:36 PM)
19 hrs ago (02:36 PM)
I was in a sleeper class. That morning a hijra came and ask me for money...i said ok, gave him (her??) RS20...but he started scolding me..I was dismayed and then, said " fatur, only 20 buck, put that in my @$$" ...while saying that, he (she??) lifted his (her??) sari...i was with a female colleague, thats the worst embarrassment for my life, for 20 bucks...from that day, i resolved not to show any mercy to hijras...they rowdy and unruly...
A.Majid (Hyderabad)
22 hrs ago (11:54 AM)In most trains these days there are RPF or GRP personnel,who ignore these eunuch menace. The railway administration should have sustained campaign by forcibly de-training them in small Passenger Halts and book them under railway acts. Unfortunately the police must be getting hafta/mamul from them in cash or kind that is why they move freely in trains.
22 hrs ago (11:54 AM)In most trains these days there are RPF or GRP personnel,who ignore these eunuch menace. The railway administration should have sustained campaign by forcibly de-training them in small Passenger Halts and book them under railway acts. Unfortunately the police must be getting hafta/mamul from them in cash or kind that is why they move freely in trains.
NRI (Malaysia)
19 Nov, 2011 08:19 AM
19 Nov, 2011 08:19 AM
Eunuchs have become a major problem for passangers travelling in 2nd or sleeper class specially on mumbai kolkata line. Very frequently specially families get harrased by eunuchs and families are helpless because these eunuchs travel in big gangs. Most of people just prefer to keep mumb because they are too scared to protest. I wonder why this issue has not caught mainstream media attention. I have heard stories that these eunuchs have patch up with railway police on several stations. And railway police ignore any complaints by passangers because they get a share of collection. I too have a nightmare experience. I was abused and even manhandled when i refused to pay. I was only male in a group of ladies. When ladies intervened they were met with abuse too. I don't dare to board a sleeper class pn that route again.
Mahendra (Pune) replies to NRI
19 Nov, 2011 09:25 AM
19 Nov, 2011 09:25 AM
The problem is not only on Mumbai Kolkata line it is present virtually everywhere in India. It was less than a year back when the eunuchs had thrown a man out of a running train near Hyderabad.I am a travel freak and travel in general compartments quite often during my unscheduled escapades I personally have experienced this menace even while travelling to Delhi via both CR and WR trains. It is a menace that ought to be checked before it goes out of control. The first step starts with US. Passengers must stop giving money to them and stop being meek. I only give them one stern look and do not utter a word when accousted by them. My eyes do the talking. Trust me when I say I have not given even a rupee to a eunuch till now.
Rohit Rath (Bangalore, India)
19 Nov, 2011 06:59 AM
19 Nov, 2011 06:59 AM
see every gal or even Enunch , get away easy by always blaming men about sexual abuse, fact is barely any women or enunch get abuse but in turn lots of men gets abuse every single day.SUch cases are easily highlighted by media because it is been captured by self centered women and other print medias plus women commission. Now all these gals n enunchs have actually become new form of terrorist , it is SOCIAL terrorist
'Eunuchs' kill passenger in train
NAGPUR: A gang of miscreants, posing as eunuchs, stabbed a man in the general bogey of the Patna-Bangalore Sanghamitra Express on Tuesday night. The eunuchs were demanding Rs 50 from Rakesh Kumar Shau who had parted with only Rs 10. Bleeding profusely from the attack, he later succumbed to injuries.
The latest incident underlined the increasing menace of eunuchs, beggars and other miscreants who harass passengers after entering the trains illegally when it stops at signals. With most incidents taking place in long-distance trains, a nexus between the security forces and offenders cannot be ruled out. Of late, incidents of miscreants posing as eunuchs have risen in trains even as the Railway Protection Force (RPF) turns a Nelson's Eye.
Shau, who was in his 20s and married only a year ago, had boarded the train from Patna on Monday evening. He and five others worked at a Bangalore-based construction company as masons. A couple of Shau's co-travellers too were injured in the attack. The injured remained unattended for a long time after the train stopped on platform No 2 at the Nagpur station.
The incident took place at 10pm on Monday night after the train halted at a signal just before Nagpur. Three so-called eunuchs, with typical mannerisms and a gaudy make-up, entered the general bogey towards the rear end of the train.
"They demanded Rs 50. We asked them to settle for Rs 10 as we were not carrying much cash with us. However, they were not willing to listen," said Ravi Kumar, who was Shau's co-traveller. "Suddenly, they started snatching our wallets and tickets. They were carrying small knives too. This led to a mild scuffle. Nobody came to our help."
One of the miscreants, identifying herself as Sapna then spoke to someone on the mobile phone. "They pulled the chain so four more attackers could board the train. Two waited on the tracks while around six started attacking us even as the train remained standing," said Ravi Kumar.
Shau received multiple stab injuries on the back of his left leg. The men approached the Government Railway Police after they reached the Nagpur. While a section of GRP personnel rushed the injured Shau and others to the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital, another headed by assistant sub-inspector Premlal Samudure rushed to the Motibagh, Gaddigodam and Pilli Nadi localities to look for Sapna and her gang.
The police has managed to nab Swapnil Bauria, alias Sapna, Vijay Chafle, alias Saloni, Aman Mendhe, Yogesh Bhoyar and Ajay Bawne. "Bhoyar assaulted Shau with the knife while the others beat him up," said Chandrashekhar Bhabal, Sr PI of GRP. Bhoyar has a prior criminal record too, said the cops.
GRP officials said that RPF should patrol more in the trains to ensure such incidents do not take place. "RPF has the power to take action against the eunuchs under section 145 of Indian Railways Act," said a GRP personnel.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Eunuchs-kill-passenger-in-train/articleshow/9049030.cms
The latest incident underlined the increasing menace of eunuchs, beggars and other miscreants who harass passengers after entering the trains illegally when it stops at signals. With most incidents taking place in long-distance trains, a nexus between the security forces and offenders cannot be ruled out. Of late, incidents of miscreants posing as eunuchs have risen in trains even as the Railway Protection Force (RPF) turns a Nelson's Eye.
Shau, who was in his 20s and married only a year ago, had boarded the train from Patna on Monday evening. He and five others worked at a Bangalore-based construction company as masons. A couple of Shau's co-travellers too were injured in the attack. The injured remained unattended for a long time after the train stopped on platform No 2 at the Nagpur station.
The incident took place at 10pm on Monday night after the train halted at a signal just before Nagpur. Three so-called eunuchs, with typical mannerisms and a gaudy make-up, entered the general bogey towards the rear end of the train.
"They demanded Rs 50. We asked them to settle for Rs 10 as we were not carrying much cash with us. However, they were not willing to listen," said Ravi Kumar, who was Shau's co-traveller. "Suddenly, they started snatching our wallets and tickets. They were carrying small knives too. This led to a mild scuffle. Nobody came to our help."
One of the miscreants, identifying herself as Sapna then spoke to someone on the mobile phone. "They pulled the chain so four more attackers could board the train. Two waited on the tracks while around six started attacking us even as the train remained standing," said Ravi Kumar.
Shau received multiple stab injuries on the back of his left leg. The men approached the Government Railway Police after they reached the Nagpur. While a section of GRP personnel rushed the injured Shau and others to the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital, another headed by assistant sub-inspector Premlal Samudure rushed to the Motibagh, Gaddigodam and Pilli Nadi localities to look for Sapna and her gang.
The police has managed to nab Swapnil Bauria, alias Sapna, Vijay Chafle, alias Saloni, Aman Mendhe, Yogesh Bhoyar and Ajay Bawne. "Bhoyar assaulted Shau with the knife while the others beat him up," said Chandrashekhar Bhabal, Sr PI of GRP. Bhoyar has a prior criminal record too, said the cops.
GRP officials said that RPF should patrol more in the trains to ensure such incidents do not take place. "RPF has the power to take action against the eunuchs under section 145 of Indian Railways Act," said a GRP personnel.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Eunuchs-kill-passenger-in-train/articleshow/9049030.cms
Times of India, India
RPF rounds up 25 eunuchs
for harassing train passengers
TNN | Nov 10, 2011, 04.52AM IST
AHMEDABAD: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has arrested 25 eunuchs
for harassing and extorting money from travelers onboard trains
connecting Ahmedabad to various places.
The eunuchs used to travel in groups of three and four, forcing
passengers to give them money and in some cases even hassle passengers
who refused. "There were two-three groups who used to operate on
separate routes, intimidate travelers and extort Rs 10 to Rs 15 from
each one of them," said a railway official.
Several complaints of extortion and harassment were lodged by
passengers with the railway officials about eunuchs forcibly exacting
money from passengers traveling in sleeper and three-tier AC coaches
on routes of Delhi, Rajkot and Mumbai. They would board trains from
in-between stations such as Mehsana, Viramgam and Nadiad.
After an extensive search launched by the RPF on many trains the
accused were rounded up. This was the first such raid on eunuchs in
the past five to six years.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/RPF-rounds-up-25-eunuchs-for-harassing-train-passengers/articleshow/10674056.cms
13 Eunuchs Killed In Fire In India?
NEW DELHI (AP) — A fire tore through a makeshift tent at a gathering of thousands of eunuchs in the Indian capital on Sunday, killing 13 people and injuring at least 33 others, police said.
Emergency workers said the blaze was most likely caused by an electrical short and quickly spread through the tent, which was about 100 feet (30 meters) long.
The tragedy struck during a gathering of about 5,000 eunuchs for a prayer ceremony and feast held once every five years, said Shapo, an organizer of the event at a fairground in the Nandnagary neighborhood of east Delhi. Shapo, like many eunuchs, uses only one name.
Sunday was the first day of the 20-day event, said Ratna, an attendee.
One witness, Angelie, said there was a loud short, then flames suddenly erupted and a gas cylinder exploded. Crowds of people ran to the exit from the fairground, Angelie said.
The Press Trust of India news agency reported that local residents raced to the area to pull the injured from the blaze before police and fire fighters arrived. Police official Sanjay Jain said the fire killed 13 people and injured 33 others. It was not clear if all were killed by the fire or if some were trampled in the race to escape the flames.
India’s estimated 700,000 eunuchs traditionally survive by begging, dancing at weddings, or blessing newborn babies, and frequently are subjected to discrimination.
Emergency workers said the blaze was most likely caused by an electrical short and quickly spread through the tent, which was about 100 feet (30 meters) long.
The tragedy struck during a gathering of about 5,000 eunuchs for a prayer ceremony and feast held once every five years, said Shapo, an organizer of the event at a fairground in the Nandnagary neighborhood of east Delhi. Shapo, like many eunuchs, uses only one name.
Sunday was the first day of the 20-day event, said Ratna, an attendee.
One witness, Angelie, said there was a loud short, then flames suddenly erupted and a gas cylinder exploded. Crowds of people ran to the exit from the fairground, Angelie said.
The Press Trust of India news agency reported that local residents raced to the area to pull the injured from the blaze before police and fire fighters arrived. Police official Sanjay Jain said the fire killed 13 people and injured 33 others. It was not clear if all were killed by the fire or if some were trampled in the race to escape the flames.
India’s estimated 700,000 eunuchs traditionally survive by begging, dancing at weddings, or blessing newborn babies, and frequently are subjected to discrimination.
A God,s Gift to Eunchs ?
15 Eunuchs Killed In Fire At Ceremony In India
NEW DELHI (AP) — Eunuchs have returned to the cordoned-off area of a Indian fairground to salvage belongings after a fire turned their day of prayer and celebration into a time of mourning.
Acrid smoke hung in the air Monday afternoon as small groups of people were allowed to enter the area. An electrical short is believed to have caused the fire in a makeshift tent at the New Delhi fairground.
Officials said Sunday’s fire killed 15 and injured at least 36 others.
Thousands of eunuchs had gathered for a feast and prayer ceremony to honor the dead and pray for long life and health of children.
The words eunuch or hijra in India describe transvestites, transsexuals and others who identify themselves as a third gender. They are frequently subjected to discrimination.
Outside the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, victims of the Nandnagri fire tragedy mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Vedana has just lost Sonia her 'chela' or follower who had been living with her since childhood.
"She was like my child. I took care of her since her childhood," Vedana said.
Who is the next of the kin? This is perhaps the biggest dilemma for the government. While they are ready to hand over compensation they have no idea who to give it to.
GC Meena, Deputy Commissioner, said, "According to government laws, we can only give the money to the next of the kin. We don't recognise the Guru-Chela relationship."
For the eunuch community the guru is equivalent to a mother and a chela the same as a daughter. They spend their entire lives together.
When we told these eunuchs that the government doesn't recognise their relationships, they lost their cool.
"Government should think about us," an eunuch said.
It's a community that lives on its own terms away from public view. While government officials say there is no provision to distribute compensation amongst the gurus and chelas of the deceased, perhaps its time to do a rethink on laws to include the family patterns of this section of society.
Sunday was to be the first day of a 10-day private festival organized by the community to honor a guru, offer prayers and feast together. Attendees were expected from parts of South Asia. Indian eunuchs, also known as hijras, have been present for hundreds of years in India but remain a marginalized community. They sometimes earn money by performing at wedding and birth ceremonies, and many of them have been forced into begging and prostitution. There are over a million hijras in India.
Sanjay Kumar Jain, the Delhi police commissioner for the North East District, estimated that 500 to 700 eunuchs were present during the fire, but some eunuchs said the crowd was a few thousand people.
The accident site on Monday was cordoned off by the police but still open to the members of the eunuch community, some of whom could be seen walking in and out of the place while a few others sat outside. The usually boisterous group was unusually quiet, mourning the loss of 14 of their community and worried about the 35 others who suffered severe burns. Most of the casualties were sent to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, the police said.
“Do you think we want to talk about it,” said one visibly upset community member when questioned by a reporter.
Surjeet Kumar, an eyewitness who lives behind the accident site, said that the entrance to the makeshift tent was extremely congested when he saw the blaze. He said he and his neighbors dragged some victims over a gate that was barring the entrance to the tent, and took them to a nearby park before police and the fire officials came after numerous phone calls.
The scene outside the Accident and Emergency wing at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital was grim. More than a hundred eunuchs had gathered, some sitting on the floor holding on to their belongings, with others taking turns going to the morgue and the burns ward and a few hugging.
“More than 5,000 members of our community were supposed to participate in the 10-day long program,” said Shaboo, who like many other eunuchs goes by just one name. “There were arrangements for food and as well as our stay — and see what happened on the first day.”
Naina, another hijra, said that there was no set schedule for these types of meetings, which were organized depending on the availability of funds.
“We look forward to such gatherings because eunuchs of all age groups from India come together and we share our thoughts and try to solve our problems during these events,” she said.
As the sun set, the crowd begun to disperse somewhat as eunuchs from nearby areas returned home. Others waited at the hospital, some to collect the dead bodies of their friends from the hospital authorities or tend to the injured. Some remained because they had traveled to the meeting from outside Delhi and didn’t have a shelter for the night.
Some eunuchs are being housed in a “dharamshala,” or inn, attached to a temple near the accident site, police officials said. Representatives from the Maan AIDS Foundation, a Lucknow-based non-government organization, are helping house others at a community center in north Delhi, Nilesh Kumar, the regional officer for the foundation said.
The chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit on Monday announced compensation of 200,000 rupees, or $3,800, to the next of kin of each eunuch killed.
The cause of the fire still remains a mystery. The police department attributes it to an electrical short circuit, but fire department officials seem unsatisfied with that explanation. “It will take a few more days before we can say what exactly caused the fire, whether it was careless smoking, leakage from a cooking gas cylinder or a short circuit,” said Gopal Chandra Misra, chief fire officer for the Delhi fire department.
Mr. Misra said the organizers flouted guidelines listed under the Delhi Fire Service Rules, by not having proper exits and using a tent of poor-quality material, among other things.
Less than an hour after Dikshit’s visit to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, and some quick discussions with members of the Hijra community, the hospital’s emergency medical officer settled on the guru-chela tradition followed by the eunuchs to draw up a list of next of kin.
“An analysis of the age profile of the victims showed that only the senior eunuchs, who could not run out of the fire site, died and suffered grievous injuries. So, we drew a list of not only the dead but also the 32 injured brought to our centre. We identified 3-4 chelas (followers) of every senior Hijra,” a senior official of the hospital said.
According to the official, the hospital took this step in the absence of specific instructions from police or government officials on the matter.
“The crowd outside became uncontrollable when the compensation announcement was made. We had to have some plan ready,” the official said. “Any patient with over 30 per cent burns can succumb to injuries, especially because some have additional complications like diabetes and heart problems. One of the victims, Sonia, has over 85 per cent burns and is very critical. Another has severe respiratory problems. We decided to draw up a list of their chelas as well as a precautionary measure.”
By evening, the official’s fears came true. One of the seriously injured, Shakila, died of complications.
Representatives of the eunuchs suggested various ways of distributing the compensation amount. Bipasha, chela of Bela, one of the gurus who died in the blaze, said: “There is one senior Hijra who is a sort of successor decided by the community. Ideally, the amount should be given to her. If the guru had a favourite, that person could be nominated by all other chelas and given the amount.”
Acrid smoke hung in the air Monday afternoon as small groups of people were allowed to enter the area. An electrical short is believed to have caused the fire in a makeshift tent at the New Delhi fairground.
Officials said Sunday’s fire killed 15 and injured at least 36 others.
Thousands of eunuchs had gathered for a feast and prayer ceremony to honor the dead and pray for long life and health of children.
The words eunuch or hijra in India describe transvestites, transsexuals and others who identify themselves as a third gender. They are frequently subjected to discrimination.
Click to play videoNew Delhi: After the massive tragedy in East Delhi on Sunday night that killed 15 people, the Delhi Government is still busy trying to identify the deceased.
Authorities also have another problem at hand and that is to find out who to provide compensation to as most of the eunuchs who died in the fire don't have a family. Outside the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, victims of the Nandnagri fire tragedy mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Vedana has just lost Sonia her 'chela' or follower who had been living with her since childhood.
"She was like my child. I took care of her since her childhood," Vedana said.
Who is the next of the kin? This is perhaps the biggest dilemma for the government. While they are ready to hand over compensation they have no idea who to give it to.
GC Meena, Deputy Commissioner, said, "According to government laws, we can only give the money to the next of the kin. We don't recognise the Guru-Chela relationship."
For the eunuch community the guru is equivalent to a mother and a chela the same as a daughter. They spend their entire lives together.
When we told these eunuchs that the government doesn't recognise their relationships, they lost their cool.
"Government should think about us," an eunuch said.
It's a community that lives on its own terms away from public view. While government officials say there is no provision to distribute compensation amongst the gurus and chelas of the deceased, perhaps its time to do a rethink on laws to include the family patterns of this section of society.
Eunuchs Mourn After Deadly Blaze
A deadly fire has left a community of eunuchs in shock as police investigate the cause. Kevin Frayer/Associated PressA eunuch looks on at the debris left after the fire accident in east Delhi.
Footwear, mangled plastic bottles and tattered fabric mixed with charred debris at the fire-ravaged site in the east Delhi neighborhood of Nand Nagri on Monday afternoon. This is all that was left at a community center compound where a makeshift tent – erected for a large congregation of eunuchs, or transgender people, from across India – went up in flames on Sunday evening.Sunday was to be the first day of a 10-day private festival organized by the community to honor a guru, offer prayers and feast together. Attendees were expected from parts of South Asia. Indian eunuchs, also known as hijras, have been present for hundreds of years in India but remain a marginalized community. They sometimes earn money by performing at wedding and birth ceremonies, and many of them have been forced into begging and prostitution. There are over a million hijras in India.
Sanjay Kumar Jain, the Delhi police commissioner for the North East District, estimated that 500 to 700 eunuchs were present during the fire, but some eunuchs said the crowd was a few thousand people.
The accident site on Monday was cordoned off by the police but still open to the members of the eunuch community, some of whom could be seen walking in and out of the place while a few others sat outside. The usually boisterous group was unusually quiet, mourning the loss of 14 of their community and worried about the 35 others who suffered severe burns. Most of the casualties were sent to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, the police said.
“Do you think we want to talk about it,” said one visibly upset community member when questioned by a reporter.
Surjeet Kumar, an eyewitness who lives behind the accident site, said that the entrance to the makeshift tent was extremely congested when he saw the blaze. He said he and his neighbors dragged some victims over a gate that was barring the entrance to the tent, and took them to a nearby park before police and the fire officials came after numerous phone calls.
The scene outside the Accident and Emergency wing at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital was grim. More than a hundred eunuchs had gathered, some sitting on the floor holding on to their belongings, with others taking turns going to the morgue and the burns ward and a few hugging.
“More than 5,000 members of our community were supposed to participate in the 10-day long program,” said Shaboo, who like many other eunuchs goes by just one name. “There were arrangements for food and as well as our stay — and see what happened on the first day.”
Naina, another hijra, said that there was no set schedule for these types of meetings, which were organized depending on the availability of funds.
“We look forward to such gatherings because eunuchs of all age groups from India come together and we share our thoughts and try to solve our problems during these events,” she said.
As the sun set, the crowd begun to disperse somewhat as eunuchs from nearby areas returned home. Others waited at the hospital, some to collect the dead bodies of their friends from the hospital authorities or tend to the injured. Some remained because they had traveled to the meeting from outside Delhi and didn’t have a shelter for the night.
Some eunuchs are being housed in a “dharamshala,” or inn, attached to a temple near the accident site, police officials said. Representatives from the Maan AIDS Foundation, a Lucknow-based non-government organization, are helping house others at a community center in north Delhi, Nilesh Kumar, the regional officer for the foundation said.
The chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit on Monday announced compensation of 200,000 rupees, or $3,800, to the next of kin of each eunuch killed.
The cause of the fire still remains a mystery. The police department attributes it to an electrical short circuit, but fire department officials seem unsatisfied with that explanation. “It will take a few more days before we can say what exactly caused the fire, whether it was careless smoking, leakage from a cooking gas cylinder or a short circuit,” said Gopal Chandra Misra, chief fire officer for the Delhi fire department.
Mr. Misra said the organizers flouted guidelines listed under the Delhi Fire Service Rules, by not having proper exits and using a tent of poor-quality material, among other things.
Who are eunuchs’ next of kin? Hospital works on guru-chela list
At the site of the blaze, the day after. AP
Less than an hour after Dikshit’s visit to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, and some quick discussions with members of the Hijra community, the hospital’s emergency medical officer settled on the guru-chela tradition followed by the eunuchs to draw up a list of next of kin.
“An analysis of the age profile of the victims showed that only the senior eunuchs, who could not run out of the fire site, died and suffered grievous injuries. So, we drew a list of not only the dead but also the 32 injured brought to our centre. We identified 3-4 chelas (followers) of every senior Hijra,” a senior official of the hospital said.
According to the official, the hospital took this step in the absence of specific instructions from police or government officials on the matter.
“The crowd outside became uncontrollable when the compensation announcement was made. We had to have some plan ready,” the official said. “Any patient with over 30 per cent burns can succumb to injuries, especially because some have additional complications like diabetes and heart problems. One of the victims, Sonia, has over 85 per cent burns and is very critical. Another has severe respiratory problems. We decided to draw up a list of their chelas as well as a precautionary measure.”
By evening, the official’s fears came true. One of the seriously injured, Shakila, died of complications.
Representatives of the eunuchs suggested various ways of distributing the compensation amount. Bipasha, chela of Bela, one of the gurus who died in the blaze, said: “There is one senior Hijra who is a sort of successor decided by the community. Ideally, the amount should be given to her. If the guru had a favourite, that person could be nominated by all other chelas and given the amount.”
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