Bengaluru, 25 Sept (H.S.): The Bengaluru City Police have issued guidelines for handling complaints of harassment, aggressive demands for money, traffic obstruction and other unlawful activity at public places involving transgender persons.

The guidelines direct officers to examine complaints about demands for money or alms, threats, verbal abuse, assault and harassment. Police have been asked to take appropriate legal action based on the circumstances of each case.

Officers have also been instructed to respond to complaints at traffic signals, in sensitive areas and near venues hosting events or ceremonies. Police stations must identify locations in their jurisdictions where complaints recur and increase patrols in those areas.

The guidelines call for meetings with members of the transgender community to explain the law and raise awareness about activities that could lead to complaints or legal action. This outreach is intended to help police address problems before they escalate.

At the same time, the instructions stress that officers must protect the lawful rights, dignity and respect of transgender persons while maintaining public order and keeping traffic moving. Complaints are to be assessed on the conduct reported in each case.

The directions follow complaints from members of the public about incidents at busy locations across the city. They give police a framework for investigating those reports, responding where needed and monitoring places where problems have been reported repeatedly.

By pairing increased patrols with community meetings, the city police aim to address disruption at public places while ensuring that their response respects the rights of transgender individuals. The guidelines ask officers to distinguish between lawful activity and conduct that warrants action under the law.

Police stations will be responsible for identifying recurring complaint locations within their own limits and responding according to local conditions. Officers have been told to examine individual complaints and act where the facts justify it, while treating everyone involved with dignity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman