Guwahati: 22 transgender persons arrested over alleged extortion, public nuisance

Guwahati Police have arrested 22 transgender persons during a city-wide crackdown over allegations of extortion and creating nuisance in public places.

Speaking to the media, Joint Commissioner of Police Ankur Jain said the coordinated operation was carried out to apprehend individuals accused of threatening pedestrians and vehicle owners and illegally demanding money from them.

Jain said police had received several public complaints regarding such incidents, prompting the operation across all three police districts of Guwahati — East, West and Central.

Of the 22 persons arrested, 12 were picked up from the Central Police District, nine from the West Police District and one from the East Police District, he said.

The Joint Commissioner said police had followed the prescribed procedure to identify the arrested individuals and that the verification process was still underway. He added that they would be required to submit their transgender identity certificates as part of the process.

The arrested persons have been produced before the concerned court, and further legal action will be initiated, Jain said.