CHENNAI: A 34-year-old transgender has been admitted in Stanley Hospital with grievous injuries following an assault, allegedly linked with a land grab bid.According to family members, Amul Raj was molested and beaten up by goons hired by a real estate broker. They also claimed that the police, instead of taking action against the offenders, had threatened them saying they would register a case of attempted suicide against the transgender.Raj, who lives at Bharathidasan Second Street in Pallikaranai, is a fortune-teller. On July 24, she went to a nearby shop, but did not return the whole day. But her mother Philomena wasn’t worried as she assumed that Raj had gone to her sister’s house in the same area. On Monday afternoon, Philomena got a message from a neighbour informing that Raj was found lying in a bushy area near the Pallikaranai Police Station with grievous injuries. After undergoing treatment in a hospital at Medavakkam, Raj returned home. That was when she told the family about the molestation bid and assault by a five-member gang. Raj attributed the fresh attack to the same gang that had carried out another attack a month ago. Philomena lodged a complaint with the Pallikaranai police. Meanwhile, Raj developed convulsions and was admitted to a hospital at Washermenpet and was later shifted to Stanley Hospital. According to family members, Raj underwent a head surgery and was in a critical condition. “Doctors found injuries in Raj’s genitals. There was bleeding in her brain as well. We fear for her life,” said Philomena.“Raj said the broker was part of the gang that carried out attack on both occasions. The broker has been trying to grab our land. We suspect that the attack could have been his plan to threaten us,” said Lawrence, younger brother of Raj.Philomena said they had purchased over 1,800 square feet land at Pallikaranai from a real estate agent some 12 years ago for Rs 35,000. After the sale, the agent had asked for an additional amount of Rs 16,000, which the family refused. “We built a small house on the land and during rains, our house used to get flooded. Only then we realised that it was a lake area that was encroached upon and later sold to us,” said Lawrence.The family also alleged that the Pallikaranai police, who were supposed to conduct an inquiry based on their complaint, were instead threatening them. “The policemen came to the hospital and threatened my sister Mercy to give a different complaint, saying that Raj attempted suicide,” recalled Lawrence.However, Pallikaranai Inspector Chandra Sekar rubbished the charge. “We have detained three persons in connection with the attack. It is a sexual offence,” he said.
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