Condemning the recent sting operation by a Kannada news channel in September, members of the transgender community in Karnataka claim that it has affected their freedom and mobility in the mainstream society.

Following the show, five transwomen were arrested and one of them was lodged in the male cell, which hurt the dignity of the community and this has further disturbed them.  

On September 25, the channel aired Operation Anandi, which showed the traditional process of ‘Dayamma Nirvana’, a ‘surgery’ that is supposedly carried out within the transgender community.

The five transwomen were arrested for allegedly forcefully conducting the surgery on a minor boy, whose mother reportedly lodged a complaint with the Bengaluru police.

Nine cases were registered and serious charges of murder and kidnapping were imposed on the accused. One of the transwomen was reportedly lodged in the male cell.

In a press conference held in Bengaluru on Tuesday, the members of the community called Operation Anandi TV9’s hate campaign against transgenders.

Akkai Padmashali, who was at the press conference said, “Holding a transwoman in a male cell was a violation of right to life. There is a high risk of her being sexual violated and harassed.”

The community urged the government to lodge the transwoman in a female or separate cell and provide proper health facilities. The members also asked for a fair trial without media intervention.

The community plans to hold a protest on October 21, condemning the insensitive reporting and harassment of the accused transwomen by the government.