JOIN US2 killed for control over eunuch sect
A 36-year-old man has been arrested for killing his uncle, who headed a group of hijras that had property worth crores of rupees in Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab. An aide of the dera head was also murdered.
Ranjita alias Gita, 50, headed the prosperous dera, based at Majnu Ka Tila. The second victim has been identified as Sharmila, Ranjita's confidant.
Apart from victim’s nephew Laxman, two others have been arrested in the murders – allegedly committed to take control of the dera’s wealth.
According to deputy commissioner of police (south) Chhaya Sharma, Laxman, Satish and Paras were held for killing Ranjita at Sriganganagar on April 27 and Sharmila at Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi on May 7.
“The accused had poured petrol over the two bodies and burned them before dumping them in a remote area to avoid identification,” Sharma added.
However, the murders came to light after Satish and Paras were caught on Sunday at Saket over the murder of an autorickshaw driver in Mehrauli.
“Both cases were unrelated, but during interrogation Satish and Paras confessed to have killed Ranjita in Sriganganagar and Sharmila in Majnu Ka Tila on a plan hatched by Laxman. He was also arrested over the duo’s statement,” Sharma said.
Police found out that Ranjita had territorial control over eunuchs in Civil Lines, Timarpur, Chandrawal, Ahata Kedara and surroundings areas as well as in Rajsthan’s Sri Ganganagar and Punjab’s Hoshiarpur districts.
Laxman told police that he was Ranjita’s nephew and had been working at Majnu Ka Tila dera as a caretaker for the last 14 years. He was allegedly used by Ranjita as a muscleman to threaten other occupants of the dera so that nobody could challenge his supremacy.
However, Laxman himself became powerful in the dera as time passed.
“Laxman was aware that properties, cash and jewellery worth crores of rupees were owned by the dera, but he was paid Rs 300 per day by his uncle,” Sharma added.
Then along with Satish, Paras and another occupant of the dera, he hatched a conspiracy to kill Ranjita and other powerful members of the dera so that he could become the head. Satish arranged a pistol and live cartridges from a village near Palwal for Rs 30,000.
But they could not execute their plan at the dera due to the presence of Ranjita’s close aides. “The trio decided to kill Ranjita on their trip to Sriganganagar, and executed the plan on April 27,” Sharma said.