Espionage in disguise: Bengal eunuchs accuse foreign transgender infiltrators of spying for Pak

As war tensions escalate along the India-Pakistan border amid fresh geopolitical upheavals, a deeply unsettling allegation has emerged from West Bengal's transgender community regarding the infiltration of hijra (eunuch) groups from Bangladesh.

- RAJIB CHAKRABORTY

A prominent collective, known locally as the Hema Mashi Group, has submitted a formal complaint to the Barasat Police, claiming that a significant influx of foreign hijras—many allegedly from Bangladesh and Pakistan—not only threatens their livelihoods but may also be linked to espionage, narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, and human trafficking.

In a sharply worded statement backed by video evidence, the group accused these individuals of illegally entering India, blending into society disguised as traditional third-gender performers, and allegedly siphoning off sensitive information through cross-border networks.

"These are not people from our community," said Shobha Haldar (Boroma), a matriarchal figure revered as Guruma within local hijra circles. "They have no legacy, no roots here. They are using our identity as a shield for criminal operations."