Hyderabad police have formally requested the inclusion of Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) provisions in an FIR registered over a protest and clash at the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office, escalating charges against a group of transgender individuals and a former police official.
Police Request for ATA Provisions
DSP Central Investigation Agency Inayat Qureshi submitted a request to a civil judge and judicial magistrate to allow the addition of Sections 6 and 7 of the ATA to the case registered at Cantt police station on June 3. Qureshi argued that the incident, in which protesters entered the SSP office premises, caused disruption and amounted to intimidation of staff, making it punishable under anti-terror laws.
Details of the Protest
According to police, over a dozen transgender persons gathered at the SSP office demanding the reinstatement of Maria Sario as in-charge of the Women and Children Facilitation Cell. They alleged non-cooperation by the incumbent officer, Sub-Inspector Benazir Zardari. Maria Sario, a junior clerk, had been removed from the post in December 2025 and suspended along with her former husband following departmental action. She was earlier accused in a separate case of misconduct, which was upheld in an internal inquiry.
Legal Implications
If the court grants the request, the accused could face more severe penalties under the ATA, which is typically reserved for acts of terrorism. The inclusion of ATA provisions marks a significant escalation in the legal proceedings against the transgender group and the former official.
