Transgender groups involved in money extortion clash, create ruckus at Banjara Hills PS

BANJARA HILLS: A turf war between two groups of hijras (transgenders) allegedly thriving on money extortion at traffic signals in the Banjara Hills area, took an ugly turn on Monday following a clash between them. The dispute reached the Banjara Hills Police Station after the two rival groups accused each other of being fake while calling themselves to be original transgenders.

Trouble broke out when a dispute cropped up between the two groups over the areas they control for money extortion from vehicle users, mainly at traffic signals across the posh Banjara Hills area. The two groups reportedly resorted to attacks on each other on the issue of original and fake transgenders.

The incident reached the Banjara Hills police station wherein one group of transgenders began a protest on the premises, demanding action against the group controlled by Monalisa, a transgender Monalisa. The protesting hijras alleged that Monalisa and her group had been harassing them by using rowdies.

But with the group led by Monalisa also retaliating and levelling counter-charges against the other group, it led to a ruckus on the police station premises. Some members created a big scene when they poured kerosene on themselves in an attempt to set themselves on fire.

Stunned by the turn of events right under their nose, the police registered a case under IPC 353, 306 red with 511 against both the transgender groups for creating a scene and obstructing the duties of the police. There have been a growing number of complaints from the citizens, especially the commuters, over the menace of transgenders fleecing them for money.

Incidents of unruly behaviour and even assaults by the transgenders were also reported at some places. With the hijras, both original and fake ones, emerging into a rampaging mafia to thrive on the extortion racket, the police authorities have reportedly decided to crack the whip against them. And the latest incidents at the Banjara Hills Police Station are only believed to have taken it to a flashpoint.