Tribune News Service

Kharar, June 25

Traffic on the National Highway 21 in Kharar was affected for close to two hours after a group of transgenders blocked the busy road in protest against alleged police inaction in a group rivalry case this afternoon.

A couple of transgenders staged a sit-in, raised slogans against the police and obstructed vehicular movement. The protesters staged a sit-in without the required permission on the national highway, damaged public property, indulged in rioting, obscene acts, criminal conspiracy and used criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty, said the police.

A police force, including women cops, had to be summoned with Kharar DSP Rupinderdeep Kaur and Kharar City SHO Ashok Kumar facing a tough time controlling the protesters.

Later, the police had to forcibly remove the protesters to clear the road for traffic.

The police booked 10 persons by name, all Kharar residents, and three unknown persons under Sections 353, 186, 332, 283, 294, 160, 427, 148, 149 and 120-B of the National Highway Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act at the Kharar City police station.

A group rivalry over “supremacy and collection area” has been festering in the area for the past sometime. The two groups allege coercion, assault and use of arms against each other and have approached the police several times but to no avail.