What to do when harassed by Hijra?

Hi,

I was twice recently harassed. Firstly by a group of Hijra on the train and secondly by one jumping into my rickshaw at the lights. My driver reluctantly dealt with the situation that time, but on the train nobody intervened and I was getting concerned - i eventually just jumped off at the station.

What am I to do in this situation? Do I pay a certain amount? Do I forcefully say no?

I just ignore them, or if you can, lodge complaint..

If you can neglect them good. If you find that difficult, then the second less politically correct option, keep 10 buck note in your pocket handy, just put that across and get your peace of mind. Mind you, I follow the first.

They don't have any right to harass anyone. But please pay some money if you can / wish Or ignore them. They are marginal people & live a community-life. Usually they don't have any bank account.

No, they are not marginalised people. They do have their own gangs. They do have multi millionaire begging/extraction business. Quite often they fight among themselves over control of territory. They do also kill each other to control such territory.

There are plenty of news reports pertaining to this.

Sorry, I don't usually follow those news. So didn't know that they are such a big mafia !

@WelshIndian : please ignore both my post & ' the Hizras' .

Just please google "eunuch mafia" without inverted coma and see the results.

A local or outstation train? Were you the only one who was harassed?

I usually ignore them and they go away. Maybe me being a local makes them ignore me and move ahead.

Actually after a recent spate of crackdown on the 'other' folks, their approach had drastically changed over the past couple of years. They have become less insistent and intrusive as compared to before.
Earlier they used to physically intrude, don't see that as much. But I also have changed my travel class from sleeper to third AC - they do not enter the AC compartments.

On the other hand - I had pulled the chain once when I was being bugged by a eunuch about 10 odd years back. Was in a relatively empty compartment, alone in that cubicle. This eunuch would just not go. Told him once I will pull the chain. He didn't believe me. Persisted. I pulled the chain - off he went, got and ran off the train into the nearby village.
The TC came, told hm the issue - went away. Then came the guard, said it was a insignificant cause to pull the chain, I need to pay a fine. I got wild at him, said it was their responsibility to ensure the safety of the passengers - what was I to do, wait till he assaulted me or snatched something from me - he too went after that!
The one and only time that I pulled the chain in a train! (so much for the advice of ignoring the eunuchs - but things have improved lately as mentioned before)

Generally they visit in herds of four to eight of them and distribute in the bogey. You need just to ignore them.

I just have a kiss and a cuddle with them, that is enough to send them running from me!

Ed.

I take the easier way out. Hand a tenner and fold hands if they aak for more. It's not worth it to get aggressive or in a dispute with them. They are organised, dangerous and even cops don't mess with them.

The reason why I opined that this as the less politically correct option was that this would put in a message that you get paid if you are a nuisance! So more efforts to become a nuisance.
Anyways despite the reports of gangs, they are a marginalized community, very poor job opportunities, no respect or acceptance in the society and not many options at present to earn an livelihood.
They have a role in communities as the apparently can ward off the evil eye and hence at times requested to bless weddings or some opening ceremonies. But such invites are few and far!
I stick to ignoring, try not to get angry or respond to their provocations.

I'm adding two incidents which I have had the misfortune of witnessing personally in last few years. Just a couple of years ago a gang of them forcibly entered into my sister's apartment after they came to know that a baby boy has born and made a huge ruckus, they had to pay 16k as "baksheesh". A report to the Police was made and in vain. The next incident happened last December in Delhi . In front of my eyes a group of Hijras stopped a marriage party at a crossing , harassed them , the cops were enjoying the tamasha and the party had to pay around 10k to get out of that situation. The situation is getting worse in my opinion.

A few years ago I punched a hijra to the ground on the road because he/she/it was repeatedly getting in our (wife and my) face, threatening us, making lewd gestures and generally trying to embarrass us- after being told repeatedly and politely not to bother us.

I treat them the same as I would anybody else. Threaten me or family and somebody (hopefully not me but who can say?) will get hurt.

Sorry, but I am like this only.