Transgender attacked with blade, beer bottles in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district

The Kora Police on Saturday registered a case of attempt to murder against six transgender persons for allegedly attacking one member from their own community for leaving their ‘gharana’ or group at Sorekunte gate in Tumakuru district on Friday.

The victim, identified as Anushri, was returning home to her daughter on Friday night, when the accused, riding in two autorickshaws, allegedly intercepted and attacked her with a blade and beer bottles.

Anushri somehow managed to escape and took shelter at a nearby mosque. With the help of passersby, she reached the district hospital in an ambulance and got herself admitted there.

On grounds of this being a medico-legal issue, the police registered a case against Asha, the prime accused, along with five others.

In her complaint, Anushri alleged that the accused attacked her over a row involving chit fund and gold. However, she said that the primary motive behind the attack was the fact that she had came out of the ‘gharana’ managed by Asha in order to join another group.

The Asha-led group, according to the complainant, carried out illegal activities, and members had to share their earnings with the gang leader as protection money. Any violation of these rules were strictly dealt with in terms of severe punishment and torture, a city-based NGO helping Anushri, told The Hindu.

Unable to bear the torture, Anushri chose to walk out of the group and even threatened Asha that she will approach the police and expose the latter’s illegal activities, the complaint said.

Many persons from the transgender community gathered in front of the Kora Police station and staged a protest condemning the attack and demanding strict action against the accused.