If you talk to Hijras, you will get Coronavirus, says posters at Ameerpet Metro station

Hyderabad: When the entire country is fighting against Coronavirus, some unknown miscreants have put up some Transphobic Posters at Ameerpet Metro Station on Sunday. Meera Sanghamitra, transgender rights activist from Telangana and National Convenor of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) complained about it to Hyderabad police to take action against such miscreants.

Shockingly the poster written in Telugu reads, “Warning: Do not allow Kojja, Hijras near the shops. If you talk to them or have sex with them, you will be infected with CoronaVirus. Beat and drive them away or call 100 immediately. Save people from Corona Virus Hijras".

Meera Sanghamitra appealed to Telangana DGP, Hyderabad City Police, GHMC authorities and Telangana CM to take immediate, strict action against mischief mongers who are spreading misinformation, discrimination and inciting violence against transgender persons, based on unscientific claims and prejudice.

She told Newsmeter, "This is really horrifying. We demand removal of these posters and legal action should be taken against such people for putting up these transphobic posters. Based on identification of the responsible persons through CCTV footage, these mischief mongers who are spreading false claims against transgender persons should be arrested. A general directive should be issued by the Home Ministry and State Police stating that any kind of discrimination or misinformation against targeted communities is not acceptable like it happened in with citizens from North eastern people and we have seen it happen to the doctors as well. So the concerned authorities should make sure that this kind discrimination is unacceptable against transgender community".

Punjagutta Station House Officer(SHO) Niranjan Reddy told Newsmeter, "We immediately remove the posters and track the culprits behind this and will take strict action against them".

Reportedly, these posters are not only put up at Ameerpet Metro stations but also other areas like Rajbhavan. One Mr Mohammed Sameer has found similar poster at Rajbhavan road.