Mumbai Crime: 4 transgenders held for verbally abusing, hitting traffic constable

The accused hitting the traffic constable. Pic courtesy/ Anurag Kamble

Four transgenders were arrested by Pant Nagar police on Tuesday for allegedly verbally abusing and beating a traffic constable for stopping the auto in which they were travelling and charging them for overcrowding.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at Chedda Nagar subway.

The accused have been identified as Lovely Patil (27), Vicky Kamble (26), Tanu Thakur (24) and Zeba Sheikh (24).

Vinod Sonawane, a 38-year-old traffic constable attached to Vikhroli Traffic division was on duty at Chedda Nagar subway on Tuesday. Around 6.30pm, he noticed an auto having 4 passengers. He stopped the vehicle and was taking photograph of its number plate when the transgenders exited the auto and started arguing with him.

"They questioned why their auto was being charged. When the cop told them it's against the rules, an altercation took place. First they verbally abused the constable and then they hit him" said an officer from Pant Nagar police station.

Cops present at the spot rushed to help Sonawane and managed to nab the transgenders.

"We have arrested the accused and they have been booked under IPC sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 294 (obscene act), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 34 (common intention)," added the officer.