MG Road's transgender 'adda' emptied by cops after techie robbery

The Trinity Junction in MG Road, Bengaluru became synonymous with a transgender 'adda' after dusk. A common sight is over a dozen transgenders offering sexual services. But the 'adda' has been cleared out by the Ulsoor police after a techie was robbed by someone he solicited for sex. 

Last week, Pavan Nippan had picked up a transgender from Trinity Circle, next to Taj Hotel. But after driving a short distance, the transgender sex worker asked to stop the bike at a junction in Bazaar Street in Ulsoor. Within minutes, a group of five transgender sex workers encircled him, snatched his valuables and vanished.

This is not a rare occurrence. However, police say that most of the victims fail to register a complaint - fearing public shaming. They simply ask the police to recover their valuables.

"We cracked down on such groups and warned them to not involve themselves in sex work and robbery. In the process, we also came across auto drivers - who are hand in glove in this illegal activity. We started to fine them as well. Now they have left Ulsoor and may have shifted elsewhere," said Sajjad Khan, ACP Ulsoor Sub-Division.

The police also held discussions with group leaders and transgender activists and told them about the legal consequences the community would face if they are caught again.

Gurumurthy, a petty shop owner at Trinity Circle who has been a witness to many such crimes involving transgender says, "This is a big problem and police were silent on the issue earlier. Now with many complaints, they are forced to take action,"

Transgender sex workers have now reportedly shifted to Indiranagar, Biyappanahalli and Majestic. Police department sources say they have put informants in these areas to stop illegal activity and take action against crimes involving transgenders.

• transgenders
• sex workers
• robbery
• police
• adda
• warning
• Ulsoor