Thiruvananthapuram: No law deters public from inflicting atrocities on transgender persons. Case in point: when two TG activists, one a female ally of the cause and one a transman, were assaulted last week at Ambalamukku, police filed a case under intent to outrage the modesty of a woman. The case is silent on the attack against transman. The sections under which case was filed are-IPC 341, IPC 354, IPC 354 a(1)(i), IPC 354 d(1), IPC 354 a(1)(iv), IPC 294 d, IPC 324, IPC 323, IPC 34 and IPC 119 a.
Some of the offences listed under these sections are stalking, outraging the modesty and sexual harassment of a woman. According to the victims' accounts, the transman's hand was twisted by the attackers. When the woman warned attackers about consequences of attacking a transgender person, they passed lewd comments. Activists working for gender minorities feel that law to dissuade people from attacking transgenders needs to be brought in. State transgender cell project officer Syama S. Prabha says, "Earlier various organisations like Queerhythm had submitted representations to the government and various departments for laws that offer protection to sexual and gender minorities. Ministers and legislators have been apprised about the need for passing a bill against discrimination of TG persons. But making laws to curb LGBT atrocities is going to take time. We are continuing our efforts towards it."
State Transgender Justice Board members Surya and Anil Arjunan talked about a set of guidelines which the police need to follow when a transgender person needs to be arrested. The guidelines are yet to be implemented. "However, it does not talk about laws, in case the victim is a transgender person. Such a law needs to be passed," says Anil Arjunan.
