Transgender Individuals Targeted in Violent Incidents on Indian Railways

Over the past week, the Indian state of Maharashtra has seen a concerning rise in incidents of violence and discrimination against the transgender community. On November 2nd, a 25-year-old transgender person was arrested by the Vashi Government Railway Police (GRP) for allegedly molesting a 28-year-old woman while traveling on a train from Panvel to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSMT). The accused had reportedly boarded the train's general compartment and was begging for alms when a verbal altercation ensued with a male passenger, leading to the transgender individual touching the woman's shoulder, which she found offensive.

In a separate incident on November 3rd, a 32-year-old man was arrested by the Rabale MIDC police for attempting to murder two transgender individuals. The accused, Neelkanth, had approached Sangram alias Pravina More (29) and Nitin alias Nikita Sharma (24) at a bus stop in Vashi and picked a fight with them. He then brandished a knife and threatened to kill them, ultimately assaulting one of the victims on the face and attempting to strangle them.

These two cases highlight the ongoing challenges and discrimination faced by the transgender community in India, particularly when using public transportation. Transgender individuals continue to be targets of harassment, violence, and even life-threatening attacks, underscoring the urgent need for greater awareness, acceptance, and protection of their rights.