Transgenders (Hijras) create ruckus in Silchar, tried to abduct a child, FIR lodged

Sept 5: What was almost non-visible in Silchar all these years has now become a major problem of this town. Groups of transgenders (Hijras) can now be seen going door to door in different parts of the town. These Hijras usually moves in small groups of 4 to 5 members and try to forcibly collect money from the house holds. This was alleged by many residents since the past few days. On Saturday, an FIR was also lodged at Silchar Sadar Police Station against a group of Hizras who tried to abduct a small baby when the housewife all alone then refused to give them money.

Bappan Purkayastha, a resident of Das Colony in his FIR stated, “Yesterday, I was at work and my wife and a small baby were at home. I came home at around 1.30 PM and saw a huge crowd in front of our lane. On reaching home, my wife told me that around 4 to 5 Hizras entered our house and demanded Rs.2,000. When my wife refused to pay that amount, the Hizras snatched my baby from the lap of my wife and were about to sit in an auto-rickshaw. My wife rushed out of the house and told them that she has Rs.300 with her and gave them the money. The Hizras then returned the baby on condition that they will come back again next Monday or Thursday. So on that day, they should be paid Rs.2000 or else they will take away the baby. They have also given a money receipt and visiting card and told my wife to be prepared to pay Rs.2,000 positively during their next visit.”

Another resident of the locality alleged that on Saturday afternoon, a group of Hizras went from door to door at Das Colony and demanded various sum of money like Rs.5000 from somebody and Rs.10,000 also from another. He said, “They also used abusive languages and threatened the people with dire consequences if they are not given money as per their demand. They even tried to snatch a baby from the lap of a mother. Their actions are similar to that of gang of dacoits. That is why, we were compelled to lodge an FIR today. We have grown up in Silchar but never experienced such a situation. On Monday, a similar incident happened in a flat at Ambikapatty. Today evening, another such incident took place at Janiganj. Such instances are multiplying. These transgenders have come to Silchar from outside. The administration should take immediate step and take stringent actions against them or else drive them out of Silchar.”

Another senior citizen of the area was also seen to vent anger against these Hizras who were creating ruckus at various places of Silchar. He said, “Can you imagine that in broad daylight these Hizras enter into the house and and demand fat amount of money and even try to abduct a baby? This is totally lawlessness. These Hizras are moving in the streets of Silchar with no fear of law or respect of civilised society. We appeal to the people of the town to come forward and raise voice against the transgenders. We pray to the administration to take immediate stern step against them, otherwise, if any untoward incident happens in the near future, then the administration will be held solely responsible. If action is not taken now, then Silchar will soon turn int a town of fear.”

Strangely, these Hizras after getting Rs.300 from a housewife at Das Colony gave her a money receipt wherein they wrote the name of the head of the family, the amount collected and date. In the receipt, three more rows were there stating the reason for their collection of money. The reasons were House warming ceremony, Marriage and Baby. They also gave the housewife a visiting card and told her to pay them Rs.2,000 during their next visit or else they will take away her baby. In the visiting card, their address and mobile numbers were also mentioned. It was revealed from the card that they were residing at Angarjur Daspara in Rongpur. It was also mentioned in the card the card their area of operation: “Barak Valley- Cachar, karimganj, Hailakandi: Assam is our area.” The card also contained names of the group leaders- Pipasha Hizra, Sonadevi Hizra and Nandini Hizra. Infact, there has been a dispute between two groups of Hizras in the town recently.

On Saturday night, large number of residents from Das Colony went to Silchar Sadar Police Station to lodge an FIR against the Hizras. A case was registered u/s 447/385/ 365/511/ 384/506/34 of IPC on 4 September, 2021. After that on Sunday, the Hizras called a press meet at their rented residence at Angarjur Daspara in Rongpur. It was indeed a surprising sight to find that their a large number of Hizras residing in a small room. Pipasha Hizra told newsmen that there were 70 Hizras in their group. Though they claimed to be ‘local transgenders’ but their actions could not justify this claim as there were no such trend in Silchar or Barak Valley where Hizras compulsorily attend houses during marriage or other ceremonies and collect money. This is an imported culture which the group of transgenders were trying to import in this valley. Concerned citizens have stated that if the allegations made in the FIR are found to be true during investigation, then the police should take immediate stern measures against them on a war footing to maintain peace and order.