A family was assaulted by a group of 12 transgenders who landed at their housewarming ceremony in Keesara, allegedly demanding money.
According to police, the group forced their way into the function and attacked members of the host family after being denied the amount they sought as part of Badhaia traditional custom of the transgender community, involving blessings in exchange for gifts.
On what was meant to be a celebratory day, the house owner suffered head injuries and required four stitches. The case, reported on November 7, triggered anger and reignited debate over the misuse of community traditions, not only among citizens but also within the transgender community.
“Hijra extortion has become a serious issue and has reached unbearable levels. They show up at every housewarming or shop opening and start demanding ₹50,000 or even ₹1 lakh. If not, they start stripping in front of relatives,” said a victim.
“There’s no denying that crimes are being committed by some within the transgender and hijra communities,” said transgender activist Rachana Mudraboyina. “This has become an organised crime, where a few individuals, mainly hijra leaders, exploit younger members, collect money by forcing them into begging, extortion or sex work. It’s greed and power that are driving this,” said Rachana.
Responding to this, a coalition of trans-led and hijra-based community groups initiated a process of reform earlier this year. The effort led to the creation of the Hyderabad Hijra Welfare and Rights Protection Committee (HHSHPS), a body intended to monitor misconduct within the community, improve coordination with authorities, and preserve legitimate Badhai practices.
Between August and October 2025, several consultations were held with hijra and transgender groups, along with State officials.
“The older, traditional hijra groups, those who have existed since Nizam’s time, still live with dignity. The trouble lies with newer groups that have mushroomed in the name of ‘culture’ which entertain anybody and push them into extortion and crime,” says Rachana.
The police have noticed a similar pattern. “There’s a mafia-like network operating within the transgender community,” said a senior officer from the Cyberabad Police, who has been actively involved in such investigations. “Many transgender persons genuinely want to live with dignity, but they are coerced by powerful individuals or groups who control areas and demand cuts.”
“The only way to break this cycle is through stringent enforcement, like what Cyberabad did,” the officer added. “We took consistent action, registered cases, arrested and bound habitual offenders, issued strict warnings, and ensured punishments without compromise, all while maintaining genuine engagement with the larger community. That sense of fear must be inculcated.”
The officer said these measures resulted in a visible decline in such cases across the commissionerate.
Criminal exploitation within
According to Rachana, the root of the problem lies in how certain leaders (also called gurus) have converted the traditional mentorship system into a network of control. “Most of the transgendered individuals come from poor or marginalised backgrounds with no family support, no housing, no jobs. Survival becomes the first concern.”
She said the absence of structured welfare benefits for the community has deepened dependence on such networks. “What we need now is two-fold – strong, uncompromising police action against those exploiting the system, and real welfare measures for genuine community members,” Rachana said.
Published – November 14, 2025 08:00 am IST
