
Twenty-four transgender persons attempted mass suicide by consuming floor cleaning material in Indore’s Nandlalpura area of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday evening, an official said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anand Kaladgi informed reporters that the individuals were immediately taken to Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital. He said most of them are in a stable condition so far.
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The incident took place on Wednesday evening around 8.30pm.
“We received information about the situation in a house in Nandlalpura where transgender people are staying. Our senior officers immediately reached the spot. They learned that some individuals had ingested an unknown substance and several of them fell ill. Ambulances were immediately called and 24 people were admitted to a nearby hospital. They are currently undergoing treatment and are in a stable condition. Once their health condition improves, their health status will be recorded. the incident will be known,” said DCP Kalagdi.
“We will investigate the reasons why 24 people consumed phenyl, which is a floor cleaning material,” he added.
Asked if this incident was related to the previous dispute between the two factions, DCP Kaladgi said, “We also visited the transgender dera (gathering) and checked the situation. They tried to block the road but we convinced them through dialogue.”
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Asked if the issue was sparked after an FIR was registered against a man claiming to be a journalist who allegedly forced himself on a trans person, the DCP said, “That’s a different matter.”
Neha Kunwar, associated with Nandlalpur dera ‘Kinnar’, alleged that two men – Akshay Kumaon and Pankaj Jain – posing as journalists raped and blackmailed a trans person. The victim filed a complaint at the Pandhrinath police station on Tuesday.
“Akshay Kumayu and Pankaj Jain (fake journalists) started blackmailing us and raped one individual. It happened three months ago. Even the Kinnars are not safe. Aren’t we human? They also looted ₹1.5 lakh from the victim,” Kunwar said.
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After the suicide attempt, members of the transgender community gathered at the hospital and demanded the arrest of the perpetrators. Kunwar later attempted self-immolation in the hospital by dousing herself with kerosene, but the police intervened in time.
Additional DCP (Crime Branch) Rajesh Dandotiya revealed that the two accused, Akshay and Pankaj, blackmailed the victim by pretending to be journalists.
The two men, posing as reporters, visited the dera of the transgender community in Nandlalpura in June 2025.
“The victim belongs to Kinnar society. The victim said that the two (accused), Akshay and Pankaj, who claimed to be journalists, threatened to defame her and get an FIR registered against her, as happened in the case of her Hindu-Muslim gurus. On June 12, the accused went to the physical dera of Panka as a physical dera. Additional DCP Dandotiya told reporters.
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The accused have been charged under Section 18 of the Transgender Protection Act, 2019 and for intimidation.
What is the helpline for transgender people in India?
1. LGBTQ India helplines include: Dhwani 24×7
Crisis line number: 18001027282
Helpline: 78908 93166 SAHAI +91-80-25497777
3. Transgender Cyberabad WhatsApp Support: 9490617121
What is the helpline for transgender people?
MindLine Trans+ Call free on 0300 330 5468.
(With input from agencies)