March organized by 'Foundation for Innovation and Cultural Organization' (FICO) infront of DIG office, Thrissur, Kerala
Thrissur: Members of the transgender community in Keralas' Thrissur held a protest march to the office of Deputy Inspector General of Police, claiming that they had been harassed by the police in public.
LGBTQ activists like Sheetal Shyam, Surya Ishan and Deepti Kalyani joined the protest march and raised the slogan "My body, my right" during the one-hour long protest which was held on Friday afternoon.
The march was organized by 'Foundation for Innovation and Cultural Organization' (FICO) in Thrissur.
The protestors allege that the police are harassing them on the road and at their residences and that though a complaint was lodged with the DIG, no action was taken.
Speaking with Madhyamam, Deepti Kalyani the President of FICO said "We are facing continuous harassment from the side of police. They are not allowing us to live anywhere. We are the citizens of this nation and we too have fundamental rights like any others. If this is the mentality of higher authority how would we live our livelihood?,"
"They are not allowing us to do our jobs. They are teasing publicly and making character assassination. This is completely unfair and unacceptable. If this continues one of us will commit suicide." Kalyani added
The Thrissur police have refuted all allegations. Speaking to Madhyamam, one of the police officers said no members of the transgender community were harassed and that no case has been registered against them till now.
In the banner LGBTQ activists demand to stop police harrasment against LGBTQ persons and to dismiss two police officials namely Lal Kumar (Circle Inspector of Police ) and Shinoj (Sub Inspector of Police) from Police service and to have department level inquiry on the allegations
"We are conducting mandatory night patrolling. We behaved normally to them. All the allegations are baseless," the officer said.
Deepti questioned the attitude of the police force and further alleged that threats had been made to remove such transgender people from Thrissur entirely.
"What if our family members are also with us when the police assassinate our character? Can anybody imagine that situation?" she asked. FICO has decided to conduct more virtual movements and protest marches in the future if no action is taken.