Following the gory incident where a transwoman named Hamsa was burnt to death by a transwomen gang, another incident of violence has been reported where a transwoman named Swapna was attacked by a transwomen gang led by Sony Begum, the cartel head (Nayak) of a ‘hijra’ Haveli.
The ‘Hijra’ council/collective system is known by different names in different parts of the country. In Telangana region, it is known as Dayyar or Haveli. The Haveli is inherently a hierarchical set up which is headed by a Nayak (a senior transwoman). These shared communities are close knit and include only transwomen (people born as biologically male whose gender identity or expression is of a woman). People under this system are essentially those who have run away from their families due to the unacceptance of their identities as transgender persons.
Swapna (25) belongs to the Madiga community, a Scheduled Caste. She along with a few other transwomen had gone to the Mangalaya showroom to seek alms. As they were splitting the day’s collection amongst themselves, a few transwomen under the command of Sony Begum had attacked them out of the blue, Swapna states in her complaint to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
She states that she and a few others belonged to Monalisa, another transwoman’s group and identified her attackers as Kajal, Zoya, Swapna, Karuna, Madhushalini and Lavanya who belong to Sony Begum’s group.
“They viz. Kajal, Zoya, Swapna, Karuna, Madhushalini and Lavanya are all from the Muslim community. The attackers thrashed me on my private parts with their legs and hands and footballed us. They dragged me by my hair and totally denuded & stripped me naked right on the main road in front of Big C showroom in full public view.” Swapna stated in her complaint.
They had also verbally abused her using casteist slurs saying “madiga lanje, madiga lamdi lanje, madiga moddalu cheekave” and ran away with ₹2500/- cash that Swapna had.
Swapna also mentions in the complaint to NCSC that the Sony Begum’s gang had threatened her stating that if she wishes to beg or seek alms in Hyderabad she must work as a bonded labour under Sony Begum.
“We will chase, thrash, and break your bones if you don’t come under Sony Begum. We will destroy your livelihood. We will not let you live.” Swapna had quoted Sony Begum’s gang members saying.
A complaint has already been filed at the Panjagutta Police Station in Hyderabad. However, Swapna says that the FIR registered has not included the casteist slurs hurled against her.
“This case is not just a case of violence against a transgender but is also a crime towards Scheduled Caste” one of the transwoman who spoke to The Commune said.