A serious controversy has come up in the Nandlalpura area of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, involving members of the transgender community. Hindu transgender individuals have accused some Muslim transgender persons of forcing them to convert to Islam and infecting them with HIV using contaminated syringes.

The situation has created tension between the two communities. In response, the Indore Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter. According to Sakina Guru, a Hindu transgender leader, two individuals named Payal, alias Naeem Ansari, and Seema Haji, alias Farzana, from Malegaon, have been leading the forced conversion campaign.

Sakina has claimed, “Those who refused to convert were injected with HIV-contaminated syringes.” She also said that around 60 people have fallen sick, and 12 of them are currently getting treatment at the ART Centre of MY Hospital.

Advocate Sachin Sonkar, who is representing Sakina, said that legal complaints have been sent to top authorities, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), and the Police Commissioner. He added that videos have been submitted as proof. Sonkar also said, “Nearly 100 infected individuals, victims of a so-called ‘Kinnar Jihad,’ are living in Indore without medical oversight.”

This issue has already caused several fights between the two groups. FIRs have been filed at the Chandan Nagar and Vijay Nagar police stations. Last month, a big clash at Pandrinath police station even resulted in the transfer of the Station In-Charge.

Due to increasing protests and even a suicide threat from Sakina’s group over police inaction, the Police Commissioner of Indore, Santosh Kumar Singh, has taken the issue seriously. He has set up an SIT under the leadership of DCP Rishikesh Meena along with other senior officers.

Police have said the case is very sensitive because it involves both communal harmony and public health. The investigation is ongoing.

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