A disturbing controversy within the transgender community in Indore’s Nandlalpura area has escalated into a serious communal and public health issue. Hindu transgenders have brought forth grave allegations against a group of Muslim transgenders, accusing them of forced religious conversions, infecting individuals with HIV through contaminated injections, and running an organized campaign to assert control.
Accusations of ‘Kinnar Jihad’ and Targeted HIV Infections
Sapna Guru, a prominent representative of the Hindu transgender community, has claimed that those refusing to convert to Islam are being deliberately infected with serious diseases through tainted injections. According to her, nearly 60 transgenders have already fallen victim to this alleged conspiracy. In response, Indore Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. Senior officers are part of the SIT, and the initial findings reportedly regard the accusations as serious.
Sapna alleged named two key figures behind the plot- Payal alias Naim Ansari and Seema Haji alias Farzana, accusing them of bringing Muslim transgenders from Malegaon and other parts of Maharashtra to Indore to intimidate and isolate Hindu transgenders. She alleges that after resisting religious conversion, she and her associates were forcibly injected with HIV-infected syringes.
She further stated that around 12 victims are currently receiving treatment at the ART Centre in Indore’s Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, while many others have either fled the city or are living in fear. ‘We are being forced to fight for our faith and survival in our own city,’ Sapna said.
Complaint Filed
High Court lawyer Sachin Sonkar is representing the Hindu transgender community and confirmed that formal complaints have been submitted to the Chief Justice of India, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office, the Indore District Collector, and the Police Commissioner. Video evidence allegedly supporting the accusations has also been submitted. Sonkar claimed that nearly 100 transgenders in Indore are living with HIV due to what he termed ‘Kinnar Jihad’ and warned that the larger community could also be at risk.
Conversion Allegations Date Back to 2000
According to Sapna, Naim Ansari fled from Malegaon to Indore in 2000, leaving behind a wife and children. She claims that forced conversion activities in the transgender community began accelerating after his arrival. Seema Haji allegedly took Sapna on a forced Hajj pilgrimage and pressured her to embrace Islam. After her refusal, Sapna says, Seema and Naim built a separate group by bringing in more Muslim transgenders, leading to increased tensions and violent clashes.
Inter-Group Clashes
The conflict between the two groups is not new. Several complaints, including those related to physical assault, abduction, and threats, have been filed in police stations including Chandan Nagar and Vijay Nagar. Just a month ago, a violent altercation occurred at Pandrinath Police Station, leading to the suspension of SHO Kapil Sharma following a protest.
Threat of Mass Suicide Forces SIT Action
Following repeated inaction, Sapna Guru submitted a written complaint to Collector Ashish Singh. Preliminary investigation was assigned to SDM Nidhi Verma but later stalled. When Hindu transgenders threatened mass suicide, Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh promptly formed the SIT. The investigation team includes DCP Rishikesh Meena (Zone 4), Additional DCP Dishesh Agrawal, IPS officer Aditya Patale, and ACP Hemant Chauhan. Statements from victims are now being recorded.
A Dangerous Mix of Faith, Health, and Identity
This emerging communal and public health issue within the transgender community has become a complex social challenge. If the claims made by Sapna Guru and her legal counsel are validated, this case may not only signify a serious violation of religious freedom and human rights but also pose a broader public health threat. With the SIT now involved, it is hoped that the truth will come to light and the perpetrators, if found guilty, will face severe consequences.
