Police believe the motive for the shooting of a prominent trans
campaigner in India could have been a previous inter-gang
dispute.
Sonia De, who stood for election in Gujarat province in 2004 and
2009, was shot dead outside a cinema in the city of Ahmedabad in
the province on Thursday night by unidentified gunmen in a passing
car.
Officials have since questioned witnesses and aides over the
incident and a recreation of the murder scene has been carried
out.
A senior police official told the Times of India: "Sonia was
educated and invested wisely in real estate. She also had a manager
to look after financial affairs.
"Her property at Mirzapur has been sealed for preserving evidences
and averting any property dispute. We got to know that she had
disputes going on with some of her group members.
"Moreover, two eunuchs who accompanied her to the Delhi meet of
eunuchs and transgenders will also be questioned. We got to know
that she had a tiff with a group there after she lost 700 grams of
gold jewellery. The duo is recuperating at burns ward at the VS
Hospital after their return from Delhi."
India is thought to have 1.5 million eunuchs - also called
"hijras" or "kinnar". They play an important part in the country's
culture and history.
In Mughal times they rose to high positions in the royal
households and were trusted to guard the royal harems because they
didn't pose a sexual threat.
