A leading international human rights watchdog has asked India to stop what it called "pattern-driven violence and abuse" by authorities against hijras (transgenders).

In a letter to Indian authorities, the Human Rights Watch described the action against hijras as "organized police campaign of social cleansing."

It alleged that about 100 hijras were evicted from their rented accommodation on police orders earlier this month in an Indian city and most of them lost their security deposit and belongings.

The watchdog alleged that police also arrested 41 "human rights defenders" including hijras, Dalits, women's rights and sex worker activists and trade union leaders who had gone to defend hijras.

It said the latest incident on November 10 came immediately after several national dailies reported that Bangalore police has captured a "gang" of hijras who kidnapped children, castrated them and forced them into sex work.