7 transgenders held for attacking ‘Naga Baba’

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Khurda: Hours after a ‘Naga Baba’ was assaulted by a group of transgenders in the Khandagiri area here Friday, police arrested seven of the attackers.
Khandagiri SI Ashwin Kumar Jena said they have registered a case (244/18) and arrested seven transgenders. “Taking suo motu cognisance of a video showing the Baba being beaten up by transgenders we registered the case. Others involved in the barbaric act will soon be sent to jail,” he added.
The arrested Sonukinnar alias Swapna Tripathy,25, Sweety Kinnar alias Sweety Fatima,26, Bobby Kinnar alias Bobby Singh,24, of West Bengal, Sila Kinnar alias Sushant Das,25, of Ganjam, Sradha Kinnar alias Sradha Shree,26, of Kendrapara, Rakhi Kinnar alias K Rakhi Reddy,35, of Andhra Pradesh and Simran Kinnar,23, of Sambalpur were produced in court, police said.
Sources said the incident happened after a group of transgenders sneaked into the Nageswari Mutt on the Khandagiri foothills here Tuesday night after being chased by a police team for involvement in illegal activities.
“I was taking a nap when I heard knocks on my door. On opening the door, they (transgenders) stormed into my room. I protested but they forcibly hung around my ashram for a few hours. Some of them left after realising that the patrol was no more on their trail, others continued creating nuisance,” the elderly Baba said, adding that they finally fled the ashram after repeated warnings. However, later they returned to the ashram at 3.30pm Wednesday to take revenge on the elderly Baba.
“As the Baba had resisted them the group dragged him out of his room and beat him up with broomsticks and also disrobed him in full public view. The elderly man was profusely bleeding,” said an eyewitness. Police reached the spot and rescued the injured Baba from their clutches after hours of efforts.
All Odisha Kinnar Mahasangh President Pratap Sahoo condemned the incident. “If the allegations are true then people will not believe transgenders,” Sahoo said. Due to increasing criminal incidents involving transgenders in and around the Khandagiri area, the DCP had ordered the police to send the transgenders in Khandagiri to the Hinjra Haat. After the directive police patrols used to chase out transgenders from the area.