Around 11 people were hurt in a clash between a group of hermaphrodites (commonly known as hizra) and residents of Malopara in the city yesterday.
Sources said some hizras went to the residence of Sekandor Ali, general secretary of Rajshahi Beneti Babosayi Samity, in the area on Friday to bless his newborn child and demanded Tk 10,000.
Hizras often turn up unannounced, in a group, at weddings or a house where a baby has been born to bless the family. They dance and sing, refusing to leave until they are given money.
After an altercation, the residents called police, who arrived and arrested four hizras. They were later released.
Over a hundred hizras laid siege to Boalia Police Station around 11:00am yesterday protesting alleged harassment by police. Police assured the hizras of providing security after they gave an undertaking that they would not extort people.
Around 50 hizras then went in front of Sekandor's house around 1:30pm and began taunting the residents. The residents came out wearing helmets and armed with sticks and began to beat the hizras, severely injuring six of them.
The hizras retaliated by throwing bricks and stones, injuring five of the residents.
Police rushed to the spot and detained six hizras. Officer-in-Charge Shahdat Hossain of Boalia Police Station said they would be released.
Source : The Daily Star
