Thiruvananthapuram: A circular issued by DGP Loknath Behera, promising strict action against atrocities on transgender persons, is mum on what action will be taken against police atrocities. Nevertheless, it is being welcomed by transgender persons and activists. “It is a positive sign. We see this as a result of the efforts of many people. The voices of several individuals and organisations have led to such a result,” says activist and transgender person Sheetal Shyam.
However, the silence connected with police atrocities is not lost on activists. Take the case of transgender persons in Kochi being arrested after being alleged to be part of a sex racket case. Community members and activists, including members of State Transgender Justice Board, submitted a complaint against CI Ananthalal, accusing him of fabricating the case.
However, so far no action has been taken against the police official. “The circular is a good step, but we are not sure how effective it will be. Even before, the state police chief had admitted that there have been atrocities against transgender persons, but no action has been taken,” says Anil Arjunan, member, State Transgender Justice Board.
The circular offers no clarity on what the police intends to do with existing cases, for which sufficient action has not been taken. For example, in the case of a transgender person being brutally assaulted by the public at Valyathura alleging that she was a kidnapper, cases have been registered against seven persons, and technically the arrest has been made.
The sections under which the cases have been registered are IPC 143, 147, 149, 341, 294 B, 323, 427. The offences in this case include unlawful assembly, using obscene words, voluntarily causing hurt and mischief causing damage to the amount of 50 rupees. “The offences were bailable. So, the accused were not produced before court,” says SHO Bijoy S. Stronger laws need to be made to protect transgender persons, according to human rights activist J. Sandhya.
