Varanasi: Railway Protection Fotrce Mirzapiur arrested 11 women, who posed them as Kinnars (eunuchs) to extort money from passengers in trains, on Friday. These women are from Punjab and neighbouring regions, who dwell in Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (Mughalsarai) area of Chandauli district and board trains on different routes.RPF Mirzapur in charge Chaman Singh Tomar on Saturday said a special drive was planned and launched a couple of weeks ago in view of increasing complaints received on railway helpline 139 regarding menace of Kinnars and other women extorting money from passengers.During the drive, 11 women identified as Anupa (50), Laksho Devi (40), Ani (32), Jyoti (34), Vimla (40), Jyoti (28), Shammi (37), Sita (49), Monga (36), Meenu (32), and Rajni (37) were arrested on Friday after being caught from trains harassing passengers by posing as Kinnars, between Mirzapur and Chheoki railway stations. Seven of them were caught from AC coach of train number 12487 while four women were caught at Chheoki station in train number 11402.Tomar said it came to light during investigation that apart from posing as Kinnars, many of the women were also collecting money selling garlands, flowers and pictures. The RPF recovered cash Rs 31,777 and also proceeded under relevant sections of the Railways Act against them.Progress in RPF investigation revealed that the arrested women belonged to Moga, Dharmkot and Ferozepur areas of Punjab but to operate on trains they had been living in localities like Kali Mohal and others of Mughalsarai in Chandauli for long time. None of them were transgender but they enacted as Kinnars to force passengers into paying money.The drive is continuing for past couple of weeks and eight more women were caught earlier. In three days, 20 women were caught during checking of trainson the DDU-Mirzapur-Vindhyachal-Prayagraj-Chheoki section. Officials said action against forcible collection and similar activities would continue to ensure passenger convenience.
