6 aravanis held for abducting teenager

CHENNAI: The CBCID on Friday arrested six transgenders (aravanis) for abducting a Kovalam (Kancheepuram) teenager and forcing him into prostitution in Pune after making him undergo sex change surgery.

P Raju (name changed), 16, had escaped from Pune and approached Jebaraj, who runs an NGO at Arumbakkam, on Wednesday. Raju was taken to R M Ramathal, chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women and a complaint was lodged with the CBCID.

Raju, who belongs to poor family, had moved to his grandmother’s house at Shenai Nagar and studied till 9th standard at a corporation school in Kilapuk. As he couldn’t get support for his education, he went back to his native place in Kolam, where he got in touch with a transgender priest, Arasu alais Arasi. She indulged him in homosexuality.

When his parents came to know of it, they prevented him from meeting Arasi.

However, within a few days, Arasi brought him to Chennai and handed him over to another transgender, Radha alias Raja of Kallarai, and two other transgenders.

Raju was detained at a place near Central Prison. Later, Raju was taken to Pune and forced to beg.

Eight months later, Raju was forced to undergo sex change surgery in Kaddapa, Andhra Pradesh, police said. Raju was 15 years old at the time. After a ‘special pooja’, the transgenders forced Raju into prostitution. He attempted to escape twice, but failed. Later, he saved some money and arrived in Chennai, police added.

A CBCID produced the six arrested transgenders -- Radha alais Raja (52), Subu alais Subakaran (26) of Kamarajar Salai, Arasu alais Arasi (25) of Kovalam, Shanthi (32) of Medavakkam, Kuttiamma (31) of Palakarai, Trichi and Jothi alais Sekar (42) of Kallarai -- in Egmore Court. They were remanded in judicial custody. The CBCID is looking for seven more accused in the case.