50 transgenders reach Silchar, another 50 on the way; Two groups at loggerheads over territorial dispute

Around 50 transgenders boarded the Sealdah – Silchar train and reached Tarapur earlier today. They were led by Nandini Saha Hizra who alleged that she was racially abused and beaten. Now, it is revenge time. They did not even agree to get tested at the Silchar Railway Station. “Now it is the time for revenge,” said Nandini Saha before leaving for Rongpur.

This comes a week after an FIR was lodged by Anjana Sarkar Hizra against Nandini Saha. In the FIR, Sarkar alleged that Saha lured a young transgender to their house and assaulted. Saha, according to Sarkar, filmed the transgender naked and outraged the modesty. After the FIR was lodged, Nandini Saha went missing.

Another Sardar, who accompanied Sarkar went on to say that Nandini Saha is “Bangladeshi.” Today, the group of transgenders who reached Silchar, refused to give any statement. Led by Nandini Saha and Pipasha Haldar, the group avoided the media and if any journalist tried to record their statement, they chased them awat. However, Saha said, “How dare they call me Bangladeshi. I have all the documents that prove I am an Indian and yet I am being called Bangladeshi. We will now show them their place.”

Anjana Sarkar, while speaking with Barak Bulletin said that they are terrified by the sudden entry of such a large group of transgenders. “I want to ask the administration, don’t we have any law and order in Cachar? How can an alleged criminal, against whom there is a case registered in the Police station, bring such a large group to Silchar? Is it not a gross violation of the COVID norms,” said Sarkar.

Adding that they are scared and are hiding now. “Nandini Saha called me after reaching Silchar and asked me to meet them. I am scared and I don’t want to meet them. They will murder us. They have made it clear that they will roam around the entire city from tomorrow and collect donations. Saha told us that we must join them in order to collect money or else we should leave as they won’t let us do our work anywhere in Silchar,” said Sarkar.

Nandini Saha and Pipasha Haldar, on the other hand, said that they will live in Silchar for at least two months. “We live a nomadic life. Now we have come to Silchar and we will stay here for the next two months, celebrate Durga Puja,” said Haldar. All of them will now stay in Angarjur, in Rongpur area.

Anjana Sarkar said the house in Angarjur belongs to the Nandini Saha’s husband and Saha “exploits hijras” to make money for her husband. “She is an outsider who has come from Bangladesh or Siliguri or somewhere else. She says she had killed people in the past and will kill us too. Why would Cachar administration allow such a person from outside to enter and disturb peace and harmony in Silchar?” Anjana Sarkar questioned.

While around 50 reached Silchar in the afternoon to team up with Nandini Saha, another 50 are expected to reach from Guwahati tomorrow to support Sarkar. “Yes, there is a gap now in our group, but that group will get filled up,” said Sarkar, without revealing the exact number of transgender coming in.

Meanwhile, the officer-in-charge of Tarapur Police Outpost, Ananda Mehdi led a huge team of male and female Police constables to the Railway station. The transgenders were unruly and started quarrelling with the Police officials doing their duties. After noting down their names, phone numbers and addresses, the Police decided to let the transgenders go.

The territorial dispute can take a violent turn as both groups are numbers to their camp. It remains to be seen how Cachar Police manages to broker peace.