The LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders) community has threatened an agitation against the move to evict transgenders from traffic junctions across the city even as the police are adamant about the decision that has drawn flak.
During ‘Marmara’, a gathering of community members at Cubbon Park here on Monday, a day ahead of the hearing of a curative petition on Section 377 by the Supreme Court, many transgenders expressed their anger and discontent with the proposed drive.
M.A. Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), had announced on a social networking site that the traffic police would remove transgenders begging at traffic signals after February 5.
“Most transgenders are left with only two options to earn a living — begging or sex work,” said one of them. Other members also termed the proposed eviction drive as being directed towards marginalised communities and said they would organise protests in case such a drive was conducted.
Meanwhile, the traffic police are sticking to their stand. Mr. Saleem told The Hindu that the police were acting on complaints received from citizens. “We are receiving complaints of them (transgenders) creating problems,” he said, adding that they would be taking the help of the police, who would act under the Karnataka Beggary Act of 1975. The proposed eviction drive would be taken up after February 5, which is when the Invest Karnataka meet ends, he said.
