CHENNAI: Harassment of commuters by transgenders on the Chennai Beach-Tambaram stretch is on the rise.
On Wednesday, a schoolgirl was reportedly assaulted by a group of transgenders after she refused to give them money. Though a case was not registered by the Tambaram railway police, security officials said that eyewitnesses apprised them of the incident. However, the issue gains significance as the Goverment Railway Police (GRP) had registered a case against unknown persons after a 35-year-old man was allegedly slapped by a group of transgenders on Tuesday between Meenambakkam and Pazhavanthangal stations.
According to GRP officials, the group demanded money from the complainant D Panicker by keeping their hand on his head. When he refused , they got into a heated argument and allegedly assaulted him. “The increase in such cases on this stretch is a cause of concern for us,” said a GRP official.
The group of rogue transgenders are believed to be based in Nungambakkam and Guduvanchery, officials said. “Those boarding from Nungambakkam operate on the stretch till Tambaram Sanatorium,” an RPF official said. Upon taking charge, Superintendent of Police (SP) of GRP P Vijayakumar had immediately convened a meeting of police officials with transgenders, to curb the menace. “Those who came for the meeting said that a separate group was involved in demanding money from suburban passengers and the situation seemed to normalise. But cases are on the rise,” admitted a GRP official, adding that another meeting would be convened shortly.