Members of the transgender community staged a protest over receiving the body of a transgender who committed suicide.
Chennai: Members of the transgender community staged a protest over receiving the body of a transgender who committed suicide in front of the Pondy Bazaar Police station on Wednesday. Tension built up as the body of deceased Taara (38) was handed out to her father Perumal when a group of transgenders who had congregated to get a glimpse of the deceased turned emotional.
A section began to abuse the cops on duty while another group took out a rally along EVR Periyar Salai towards the City Police Commissionerate. The protesters were blocked by the cops near Kilpauk Police station and were advised not to carry their rally forward and since the group was not willing to disperse, the police resorted to a lathi-charge.
The gate used by the public in the City Police Commissionerate was closed for sometime while extra force was mobilised in Kilpauk. The transgenders, who managed to regroup at the gate, demanded that they be let inside. A group of 5 was finally allowed to meet the nodal officer for transgender—ADC—C. Shyamala Devi and they submitted a petition seeking action against the cops for abetting Taara’s suicide.
Meanwhile, Taara's body was taken to her Saidapet home. The City Police also registered a case against a group of transgenders for going on the rampage besides assaulting cops and damaging the public property.
