Police have arrested two men in the murder of transgender woman Anjali alias Sona, revealing that the crime was committed during a robbery attempt and not out of personal enmity as initially suspected.
The victim was killed on February 1 near Uttara Chhak on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. More than 20 days after the incident, fresh investigation details have brought a new turn in the case.
A senior Commissionerate Police officer, requesting anonymity, said the main accused, Krishna Kandi, and his accomplice attacked Anjali with the specific intention of looting her. Both men have multiple prior robbery cases registered against them and are known to police as habitual offenders.
“Krishna Kandi and his associate had targeted the transgender woman for robbery. The attempt to rob her turned into murder,” the officer said. Police sources confirmed that the duo’s criminal background and the nature of the attack have made the robbery motive “fairly clear”.
Earlier, investigators had indicated that the assault could have been driven by hatred or personal grudge. That theory has now been set aside in favour of the dacoity angle.
The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the case. Further interrogation is underway to recover any stolen items and establish the full sequence of events.
The murder has once again drawn attention to the safety concerns of the transgender community in the capital city.
