Tripura: Transgenders Reportedly Attacked by Former MLA for Demanding 'Chanda'

Agartala, January 10, 2019:

A group of transgenders (eunuchs) were allegedly assaulted by a former MLA of Tripura, Lalit Debbarma. The incident occurred on Thursday at Ambassa, about 92 kilometres from capital city Agartala.

According to reports, the group had gone to the ex-MLA's residence to collect money after he had become a grandfather, to which he responded with physical violence.

The leader of the eunuchs claims that they had visited Debbarma to take part in his happiness and ask for donations, but they were manhandled by the former MLA who had allegedly turned violent.

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“Three of my girls went there to participate in the happiness of the family. But, they refused to fulfill our demand of Rs 1001 and assaulted us instead. Is Rs 1001 not affordable for an ex-MLA?” asked the group leader.

She also says that when the group declined to leave without the money, the family members of the former MLA assaulted them. “They started hurling abuses on us and later beat us with bats and wooden sticks. We approached the police, but they did not lodge our complaint” alleges the leader of the eunuchs.

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Reacting to the allegations, The CPI(M) leader said that the entire episode was fabricated and the transgenders were neither attacked nor abused. “I refused to give them money as our family members have certain religious restrictions as one of our family members had died a few months back. Otherwise, we would certainly fulfill their demands.”

When asked about the physical assault charges levelled by the transgenders, he replied, “We did not even touch them. In our belief system, transgenders are given special status. They just tried to demean us socially by making such allegations”.

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