Ticketless 'Eunuchs' in trains on Railway Police hit list

New Delhi, May 18, 2008 (PTI) It's an unusual special drive
for Railway Protection Force (RPF) -- catching eunuchs on
trains who are often seen extorting money from passengers.
Most regular train passengers have a horrifying tale to
tell about their brushes with eunuch's traditional antics of
hurling abuses and even taking their clothes off if the
required amount is not paid for.
"The on-duty RPF staff was asked to check the illegal
activity of eunuchs who were forcibly taking money from
passengers", Additional Director General in Railway Ministry
Anil Kumar Saxena told PTI here.
As a result, 809 eunuchs were arrested by duty staffs
in last year under different sections of the Railways Act,
the official said.
And the drive has also made the exchequer richer by Rs
2.02 lakh as part of fine that was recovered from eunuchs for
travelling without ticket.
However, the menace is far from over even as the RPF has
booked 183 eunuch in the months of January and February this
year and a fine of Rs 13,420 was imposed on them, he said.
Many trans-genders have also been booked under section
137 (travelling without ticket), 145 (drunkenness and creating
nuisance) and 147 (trespass refusal to desist from trespass)
of the Railways Act.
The third sex, also known as 'Hijra' in Hindi, earn their
living by singing and dancing at weddings, birth anniversaries
and other major family events.
Some members of the community also seek money from train
passengers in the name of bringing good luck to them and their
families, a regular commuter told.
Complaints alleged that they would coerce passengers to
give money by publicly doing socially unacceptable gestures
which made the Railway Board to take measures to put an end to
this menace, the officer said.
"Regular checks and drives are being conducted by RPF
and GRP against illegal practices of eunuchs in the trains.
The Board is also taking the help of other departments as well
to stop it," the officer said.
"We have instructed RPF staffs to be vigilant against
them. The important trains are also provided with special
RPF/GRP escort," Saxena said.
The Government Railway Police (GRP) is responsible for
maintaining law and order at Railway Stations, while the
Railway Protection Force (RPF) is entrusted with the duty of
the safety of Railway passengers and escorting passenger
trains in vulnerable areas.
"We also request train passengers to report any such
matter to us. We will do all to stop and punish the guilty.
After all, railway is for providing better facilities to its
passengers," he said. PTI