Pareekshith Shet
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 27: The sex trade that had been under tight leash during the tenure of the previous superintendent of police (SP), Annamalai, has raised its ugly head again since he was transferred to Chikkamagaluru. At dusk, eunuchs begin their hunt for customers, who are invited from the middle of the road to indulge in shameless sex close to the road. Tourists have begun to suspect this city to be a red light area where brothels prosper.

The spot near the old deputy director of public instruction (DDPI) office behind Baliga Towers and service bus stand that leads to Kediyoor Hotel in the heart of the city has become the hub of this activity. Since the last several decades, this town had been known for unique taste of its food, pilgrimage centres, and also for the brothels. The business, which initially had been witnessed near Alankar theatre, spread to Yatri Nivas in service bus stand. However, after the police raided Yatri Nivas, the activity turned a little docile. Now, the activity has been shifted in full swing to a spot next to the road leading to Kediyoor hotel, which is very near to Yatri Nivas. A number of eunuchs who had taken to begging in bus stands, railway stations, shops etc as a way of earning, have now taken to sex business to the discomfiture of the general public.

Most of the eunuchs begin to come out of a lodge near the KSRTC bus stand here from 9 pm get involved with this activity. A big racket functions behind them, and several of them have formed an organization for their protection and to use influence. One can see eunuchs keeping an eye for customers by sitting on the steps leading to service bus stand opposite Baliga Towers. There are some regular customers to frequent this area in search of these people. The eagerly awaiting people belonging to sexual minority are too happy to cooperate with their solicitors.

There are over three groups of eunuchs, and two out of them are confined to this road alone. In the past, their activity was being conducted in a vacant spot near the generator behind Baliga Towers. Staff of the shops in Baliga Towers used to come across heaps of condoms at the spot every morning. After someone set up fence around this spot, the activity got shifted from here. Once, SP Annamalai, had raided the spot when this activity was going on in full swing, and roughed up the concerned. Thereafter, the activity made a silent exit, but it re-emerged after Annamalai's transfer.

After the office of the DDPI was shifted, shrubs and plants had grown everywhere, making it impossible to enter the spot. After JNNURM buses were introduced recently, the spot where the DDPI office stood, has been allotted for parking these buses. By the time KSRTC took control of the spot and cleaned up it to create bus stop for these buses, the eunuchs pounced on this vacant spot. Now the sex activity has been shifted to this bus stand.

Although Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has hung a warning board that transgressors would be prosecuted, the eunuchs continue to fix customers for anywhere between Rs 200 and 300 and lead them to this spot through the parking area by the side of Baliga Towers with impunity. They complete their activity within a few minutes, and get ready for new customers thereafter. On some days, particularly Sunday, eight to ten customers get involved with sex with these people within half an hour. Condoms, parachute oil bottle, newspapers etc could be found at the spot. In one incident, someone seemed to have tried to record the proceedings on a tablet, but the tablet was smashed and the concerned were given a thorough verbal bashing by the eunuchs. Broken tablet could be found at the spot the next morning.

If this activity is allowed to prosper, soon the entire area covering the road opposite Kediyoor hotel and Airody Circle near the service bus stand might get transformed into a red light area. Therefore, a need for the town police to patrol the area from 9 pm to 12 am is felt very badly. KSRTC too has to undertake bus stand work on a fast pace, and till the work is finished, proper fencing or wall should be erected around this space. Some claim that sex activity also is carried out in Yatri Nivas lodge in the service bus stand building. Therefore, instead of carrying out the farce of raiding the spot once in a way, policemen should visit and check this lodge every day. Otherwise, the citizens are afraid, the town might turn into a hub of sex trade and decent people may find it difficult to move around after 7 pm.