A series of charts, a black board hung on the wall, neatly arranged wooden benches, plastic chairs and a water pot at the corner of the room. Last Wednesday, the police station at Perambur railway station resembled a classroom.
Transgenders and autorickshaw drivers were students and the police personnel attached with the Government Railway Police (GRP) were the instructors. The lesson for the day: Ensure safety of travellers including suburban commuters.
With increasing charges against transgenders that they extort money from commuters on the busy west rail line between Chennai Central and Arakkonam, a team of police personnel, led by S.Sekar, inspector, GRP (Perambur) circle, organised the sensitisation programme. “Though we have not got any formal complaints from commuters on the west rail line, we wanted to educate transgenders. For any emergency, commuters can call the Central Station control room number 9962 500 500,” said sub-inspector (GRP, Perambur), G. Aadhi.
Last year, special GRP teams were formed following the death of 52-year-old cashier Srinivasan after he was beaten up by a 19-year-old transgender Sangeetha alias Vignesh at Minjur railway station. It was said that Srinivasan refused to give the transgender money.
“We should not be blamed entirely for the problem. As we are denied regular jobs, we are forced to collect money at public places . But, we never force anyone including commuters to part with their money,” said Vinitha, a transgender who participated in the meeting.
Unlike other busy rail routes such as Chennai Beach – Tambaram and Chennai Central – Gummudipoondi, the Chennai Central – Arakkonam section has a mixed commuter population. While it may be a common practice in north India to give money to transgenders, such a practice is not common in south India.
So, on this line, there are two groups — one of them open to giving money to transgenders and other, not.
The police also acknowledged the role of transgenders and autorickshaw drivers in curbing crime. They alert security forces against anti-socials. “They are very good informers and do not involve in public nuisance. ,” said a railway official.
