Bengaluru police issues guidelines to curb harassment, extortion by transgender persons

The Bengaluru City Police have issued guidelines to regulate complaints involving transgender persons allegedly harassing members of the public, obstructing traffic, aggressively soliciting money and engaging in other unlawful activities at public places.

The move follows complaints about incidents at traffic signals, markets, bus, and railway stations, residential areas and function or ceremony venues.

According to the guidelines, police have been instructed to verify the facts and circumstances of every complaint involving aggressive solicitation of money or alms, obstruction of public or vehicular traffic, threats, abusive behaviour, assault, or harassment, and take appropriate legal action in accordance with law.

Police stations have also been directed to identify locations within their jurisdictions from where repeated complaints are being received and arrange increased patrolling in such areas.

The police have been instructed to conduct regular meetings with members of the transgender community and create awareness against involvement in unlawful activities.