“Stay Till Death”: Trans Woman Beaten, Held Captive in Bengaluru Gharana Dispute

Bengaluru Transgender Woman Assaulted in Alleged Gharana Dispute, Rights Groups Condemn Brutality

Victim Subjected to Kidnapping, Detention, and Forcible Head-Shaving in Attack Over Community Allegiance

Bengaluru – Rights organizations are condemning the brutal assault, kidnapping, and unlawful detention of a 24-year-old transgender woman in Bengaluru, an attack that included the forcible shaving of her head in what advocates describe as an attempt to erase her gender identity. The incident, which occurred between October 30 and 31, has sparked outrage and calls for urgent police action, highlighting ongoing tensions within the traditional structures of the transgender community.

Preliminary reports indicate that the victim, Sukanya, was abducted around 3:00 PM on October 30 from the Krishnarajapuram area. She was then taken to a location in Roopena Agrahara, where she was held overnight and severely beaten with a wooden stick and a ladle.

According to a joint statement from rights groups Sangama and the Movement for Gender and Sexual Pluralism (MGSP), her assailants explicitly told her “that she must stay in their gharana till death and should not become a chela [disciple] in another gharana.” In a final act of humiliation and control, her head was forcibly shaved before she was released the following afternoon.

Community System at the Heart of the Conflict

The attack is reported to have stemmed from a dispute over Sukanya’s alleged desire to transfer her allegiance from one hijra gharana to another. The gharana system, a traditional kinship and household structure, has historically provided a critical social safety net, livelihood, and a sense of identity for countless transgender individuals ostracized by their biological families and mainstream society.

However, rights groups acknowledge that this same system can sometimes be a source of coercion and violence. “We are unequivocally opposed to any violence, coercion, or financial exploitation perpetrated by sections within the gharana system,” the organizations stated. “Acts of control, intimidation, and punishment through violence completely undermine the spirit of solidarity, care, and kinship that the gharana system has long stood for.”

Rescue and Ongoing Threats

Following intervention by Sangama, the Bommanahalli Police rescued Sukanya and an First Information Report (FIR) has been registered. The victim bore visible marks of the assault across her body. Despite being rescued, the rights groups report that Sukanya continues to face threats from the same individuals.

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The organizations are now providing Sukanya with immediate legal, medical, and psychosocial support. They are also engaged in discussions with community leaders to strengthen internal mechanisms to prevent and respond to such violence. “We are horrified by the brutality she endured,” the statement read, while also noting the “strong support” Sukanya has received from local and progressive leaders.

Calls for Systemic Action

The case has prompted calls for broader institutional engagement. Rights groups are urging Karnataka police to take swift and decisive action against the perpetrators and ensure Sukanya’s continued safety. A further appeal has been made to the Karnataka Department of Women and Child Development to collaborate closely with community organizations to uphold the rights of transgender persons across the state.

The incident underscores the precarious position of many transgender individuals in India, who can face violence both from within society at large and from internal community power dynamics, even within structures designed to protect them.