Why transgenders kidnap young boys?

CHENNAI: Transgenders kidnap young boys, castrate them and induct them into their group just to keep their exclusive community life going.

Since they need the community, which alone supports them in their old age, they need to nurture it by bringing in new persons, said Archana Ramasundaram, ADGP of CB-CID, which investigated the alleged forcible induction of a 16-year-old boy, Vinoth, of Kancheepuram into a transgender group.

Unless efforts are made to bring transgenders into the mainstream, they would continue to make a living through begging and commercial sex and community life will remain an integral part of their existence, she pointed out.

The special team that visited `Dhamdere Halle’ in Pune’s Puthwarpet to arrest a transgender, Kaliselvi, involved in the Vinoth case, and also to rescue other children, had an insight into the life of transgenders, Ramasundaram told reporters on Wednesday.

Anti-Trafficking Cell DSP, C Balusamy, who visited the Dhamdere Halle, explained the life of transgenders there.

He said they operated in groups, each following a particular avocation. Some made a living through commercial sex, while others begged and some others formed a group that was involved in dancing.

When the team went in search of another accused Kuttiamman to Ahmed Nagar in Pune, news spread fast through their networks and all the children were hidden somewhere, said Ramasundaram, adding that police from three states - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka - were helping the State police in investigating the case.

The doctor, Naganna, who castrated Vinoth, was wanted in two other similar cases in Bangalore. Even the Goa police wanted him in a case, she said.