Indian police arrest 30 gay party goers in Mumbai for dancing ‘indecently’
Thirty people were arrested for alleged ‘indecent’ behavior following a raid at a gay party in Malad, a suburb of Mumbai, India.
According to a police officer who spoke with The Times India: ‘The raid was conducted in the wee hours today [10 January] and the accused were caught dancing indecently during the gay party.
‘Six eunuchs were also a part of it’.
It is likely that the term above refers to hijras, who in India’s culture are physiological males who have feminine gender identity, women’s clothing and other feminine gender roles and mostly live in the fringe of society.
The officer added: ‘Apart from those who participated in it, the organisers, DJs and stewards were also booked [arrested] in this case’.
The raid followed a tip-off received by the police that drugs were being sold and consumed on premises.
The police officer reported: ‘However, we did not find drugs during the raid’.
According to police, however, music was also being played during the party beyond the permitted time.
The accused have been arrested under Bombay Police Act, article 110, for behaving ‘indecently in public’.
Mumbai police have raided and arrested several private gay parties in the past using the Bombay Police Act from 1951.
Two years ago 133 people were arrested following a raid on a gay party in Mumbai for allegedly playing loud music without permission.
by Dan Littauer
Source – Gay Star News
