Kozhikode: Yet another incident of high-handedness against transgender persons was reported from the city on Thursday, this time from the police. Two transgenders, natives of Nadakkavu, were allegedly beaten black and blue by two police officials of Kasaba Police station in the wee hours of Thursday near Kottaparamba Women and Children Hospital, mistaking them to be 'pickpockets'.
The two, namely, Jasmine and Susmin, were on their way home after participating in the ongoing Kalolsavam of Kerala Literacy Mission at Model Boy’s Higher Secondary School here, when the officials tortured them using their cane. According to the victims, the Kasaba station sub-inspector was among them those physically harassed them. When the news of the attack spread, the police officials tried to wash off their hands.
Police beat up Trans persons, no case filed
Though the association of the transgenders, Malabar Cultural Forum, had submitted their petition to the Commissioner's office, the police chief said he was out of the station, and hence the DCP was in charge. However, the DCP, talking to DC, said that she was also not in the station, hence unaware of the case. Talking to DC, Jasmine, 43, said, "In addition to the torture with the lathi, the officials showered abuses on us and even said we don't deserve to live in this society anymore for being transgender.
"There was no provocation, and the police started beating us without even asking a single question. Initially, when we saw the police vehicle stopping near us, we tried to run out of fear as many of our people were beaten up like this before. We tried a convince them not to beat us, but they continued till we fell on the floor. "Though we have filed a case with the City Police Commissioner, there is no hope of getting justice from them." Both of them got admitted to Beach General Hospital.
"Since the incident happened in the early hours, we had to walk to the hospital with the injuries," Jasmine said. "We were in our dance costume after the event, and if the cops were suspicious about our attire or behaviour, they could have questioned us, and hence this is purely a violation of human rights and unlawful that male police assault transgender people. Kasaba SI admitted that he mistook the two for pickpocketing. However, they refused to record their statements.
