Transgender people turning from victims to criminals

Apart from prostitution, cases of theft, robbery and drug trafficking have surfaced

LAHORE: Acts of crime in big cities are mostly unoriginal and common, but over the last year, the provincial capital has witnessed a surge of incidents involving transgender criminals. According to police records, there have been numerous cases of prostitution among certain members of the transgender community. There are now, however, transgender persons directly involved in cases of theft, robbery and drug trafficking.

Over these 12 months, two cases emerged in which FIRs were registered with the Lower Mall police station against transgender persons identified as Shahid Ali, also known as Kaka, and Gori over prostitution. Meanwhile, Tibbi City police station also filed a case against transgender Naeema Bibi, who was involved in prostitution and the police had to send all of them to jail for criminal proceedings.

At the same police station, another transgender person named Azeem aka Romney was booked for theft after being accused of stealing a person's money and mobile. After Romney was found guilty, a court sent him to jail.

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Apart from these cases, another incident occurred with a citizen in the jurisdiction of Iqbal Town police station where unidentified transgender persons stopped the victim’s car at a traffic signal at Dubai Chowk. They came to him and begged for money, demanding Rs100 instead of what was offered by the victim. One of the transgender beggars allegedly distracted the victim by demanding more money. Meanwhile, two motorcyclists snatched his mobile and cash at gunpoint.

This incident was recorded by Safe City cameras. Iqbal Town investigation officer arrested a transgender person named Shahzad alias Princess with the help of the footage. Princess confessed to the crime in police custody, but her partners in crime are still on the run.

In another case, following information given by an informer, police conducted a raid in Naseerabad and caught a transgender person selling drugs red-handed. Three more transgender persons, Saqib alias Shani, Malik Tanveer aka Madiha and Naeem aka Bibi were booked by Shalimar police station for attempting to murder a man. The three accused were later acquitted after an investigation found them innocent. Several cases have been reported from Johar Town, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Iqbal Town, Gulberg, Mall Road, Anarkali, Ichhara and many other areas.

On the issue of tactics used by transgender criminals, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation Zeeshan Asghar told The Express Tribune that they first present themselves as beggars who ask for money at traffic stops. “After the victim rolls down the window, they pick up the mobile or any other valuable item lying on the dashboard.” Another method used by a gang is finding people on the main road late at night, he added.

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The transgender persons then present themselves as sex workers and tempt the victim to commit fornication, he elaborated. “They take the victim to a dark or isolated street where a gang of transgender criminals rob the person. The armed robbers then threaten the victim and snatch the money and other valuables.”

Citizens do not report these incidents due to victim blaming, he further said. “When police take action against transgender criminals, representatives of NGOs come forward to protect them in the name of human rights.”

About the presence of transgender beggars at traffic signals, Chief Traffic Officer Malik (CTO) Liaquat said repeated crackdowns resulted in most of them being arrested. “However, after a case is registered against them over beggary, the transgender persons get away after paying minor fines or penalties.”

The CTO revealed that many criminals, reportedly frustrated by unemployment, pose as transgender persons and start begging near traffic signals. “When the traffic warden catches them, they group together to shame and assault the warden. If they are taken away by LEA officials, then NGO representatives come out in defence of transgender criminals.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2019.