In a frightening incident, a 21-year-old transgender woman was brutally attacked outside her residence in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills. And when her friends tried to get her help, she was denied treatment by at least three hospitals in the city, before being admitted to NIMS.
Sravya* was allegedly approached by four men on Thursday outside her house, who wanted her to come with them to the residence of one of men, whom she knew. “It was the day of Ganesh Visarjan, and only Sravya and Nakshtra were at home,” Chandramukhi Muvvala, a member of Hyderabad’s transgender community.
“Around 3pm, a man she knew came along with three others and asked her to come to his place. She refused to go with him, and tried to enter the house. That’s when one of them slit her throat and slashed her hands with a knife, and they fled,” Chandramukhi says.
“One of them was Nadeem; he regularly comes to Sravya’s house and is known for assaulting community members and extorting money from them,” Chandramukhi alleges.
Nakshtra found Sravya in a pool of blood, and immediately tried to get her medical help. She was taken to hospital in an auto, but many hospitals allegedly denied her treatment.
In a Facebook post, trans woman and activist Rachana Mudraboyina writes that Sravya was denied treatment by at least three or four hospitals, and that she was finally admitted at NIMS - that too, only after the members of the trans community had to ‘clap’ to get their attention.
Referring to the NALSA verdict, Chandramukhi says, “Private hospitals are violating Supreme Court guidelines by not giving treatment to us.”
Sravya got help in time and has several stitches on her throat. Following a complaint by Chandramukhi, the Banjara Hills police a registered an FIR.
Speaking to TNM, Investigation Officer, SI, Ch Jithender Reddy said, "We have registered a case under IPC sections 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) read with 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention.)"
“As per the available information we have identified one of the accused. Soon we will catch them,” the officer added.
*Name changed.