Transgenders demand action for Tara’s death

The protests spilled over to the streets on Thursday as large numbers of transgenders held protests in front of Kilpauk police station and also at the city police Commissionerate. Police had to use force to disperse the crowd in front of the Kilpauk police station but no untoward incident was reported in front of the Commissionerate. Scores of policemen and women were posted at the heavily barricaded gate. 

The transgenders representatives then went inside and handed over a complaint against policemen Dilli Babu and Kumar, attached to the Pondy Bazaar police station, seeking action against them. The group of transgenders who filed a complaint against the police personnel who were on duty at the T Nagar station the previous day, pressed for the demand for fair investigation into the incident and called for their dismissal.  Gomathi, who was part of the group, said that they were only seeking justice. She said, “When we sought action against the police personnel present at the station during the incident, we were lathi charged and were threatened.” 

Jaya of Sahodaran, an LGBT welfare group, said that such offences against thirunangaigal (transgenders) continue to be overlooked. “Transgenders don’t have a representation in the political circle so they continue to be at the receiving end. What could have been resolved through prompt action is being blown out of proposition by the police. We fear that this incident too would be forgotten and buried,” she added. 

Another member in the group said that one of the police officials in the Vepery area told them that they should not haress them for one incident like this. She added, “But there is no hope of any action. Why can’t we assume that all policemen are brutal, after seeing what happened to Tara. If we should remain marginalised, why were we given voter IDs or ration cards. Yes, we don’t have any alternative jobs, but that doesn’t mean our lives don’t matter.”

Police sources said no action against policemen was likely as the accused police personnel had not done anything wrong. But transgenders alleged that the police had been harassing even those who lived peacefully without indulging in any criminal activities. They alleged that policemen seek money from them and also try to physically assault them whenever they get a chance.