At least 24 members of the transgender community were hospitalised after they reportedly attempted mass suicide by consuming a floor-cleaning liquid in Indore’s Nandlalpura area, police said.
DCP Anand Kaladgi confirmed that all those who ingested the substance were taken to Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital. He also added that all of them are currently in stable condition.
Police Probe Rivalry Within Community
“We received information about a situation of ruckus at a house in Nandlalpura where transgender persons reside. Our senior officers promptly arrived at the scene. They learned that some of the individuals had consumed an unknown substance, causing several of them to fall ill,” DCP Kalagdi said.
Ambulances were immediately called, and 24 people were admitted to the nearby hospital. They are currently receiving treatment and are in stable condition,” DCP Kalagdi added.
Police suspect the suicide attempt may have been triggered by an ongoing rivalry between two groups within the transgender community.
“The allegation is that a leader of one of the groups was harassing members from the other group. We have registered an FIR after their statements were recorded,” the DCP added.
Residents Allege Harassment, Blackmail
Local residents have, however, claimed that the incident may be linked to a separate case of sexual assault and blackmail. They alleged that two men posing as journalists had forced themselves on a trans person, leading to distress within the community. Police have maintained that the two cases are unrelated.
Neha Kunwar, associated with transgender community’s dera in Nandlalpura, said that two men, who introduced themselves as journalists, had allegedly assaulted and blackmailed a trans person. Following the incident, the survivor approached the police and filed a complaint on Tuesday, leading to the registration of an FIR.
“It happened three months ago. Are we not humans? They also looted Rs 1.5 lakh from the victim,” Kunwar alleged.
Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya identified the accused as Akshay and Pankaj, stating that they had allegedly blackmailed and assaulted the victim on June 12.