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Transgender Persons Expose Police Abuse: "Gender Is Not in Genitals"

Transgender persons reveal disturbing details about police atrocities. Hear from the victims themselves as they recount the shocking and degrading treatment they have endured.

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Transgender persons arrested

Transgender persons who were arrested by the RPF in Assam | Photo courtesy: Special arrangement

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Transgender persons, along with the broader LGBT community, celebrate Pride Month every June to honour their identity, history, and the progress made in the fight for equal rights. This month is significant as it not only celebrates diversity and inclusivity but also serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice for the LGBTQIA+ community.

However, Pride Month should also be a time to highlight the institutional atrocities committed against the LGBT community. In India, the level of apathy and ignorance displayed by authorities towards the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender persons, is alarmingly high. It is crucial to bring these stories to light and expose the systemic discrimination and abuse faced by this marginalised group.

In July and September of last year, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Assam arrested several transgender individuals. According to the RPF, these arrests were in response to complaints from railway passengers via the RailMadad service, claiming they were being harassed by transgender persons while travelling within the Northeast Frontier Railway zone. The RPF alleged that these individuals were forcibly collecting money from passengers. Consequently, the RPF took action, arresting three individuals on August 28, another three on August 29, and three more on September 11.

The RPF tweeted that the arrests were made because the individuals were “forcefully begging money from passengers in ladies' dress posed as transgender.” However, the story has a more sinister side. According to sources who spoke to The Probe, the RPF in Guwahati allegedly forced three trans women—Deepali, Sonia, and Muskan—to undress and show their genitals.

@YesWeExistIndia, an account on the X platform that raises awareness about the LGBTQIA+ community, first brought this incident to the attention of the railway police and the railway minister. They narrated the alleged incident, stating, “Our gender does not reside in our genitals.”

The allegations against the RPF are extremely serious. The Bongaigaon RPF has been accused of illegally and forcibly checking the genitals of the three trans women and declaring them “fake” because they had not undergone gender affirmation surgery.

"They Forcibly Demanded to See Our Genitals"

Immediately after this incident last year, The Probe spoke with Deepali, who recounted the harrowing experience she endured. "We were in the coach when the railway police arrived and began beating us with their sticks. They took us to the police station, where the beating continued. I sustained a head injury. They forcibly demanded to see our genitals, insisting we weren't trans persons. They wouldn't stop arguing, claiming we were not trans people," she said.

Deepali explained that this wasn't her first encounter with such brutality. "This happens frequently to trans persons. They just beat us up. I keep telling them I identify as a woman, so I won't go with a male police officer; I'll only go with a female officer. We beg on trains and in streets because we have no other means. We don't force people to give us money. If they do, it's fine; if they don't, that's also fine," she adds. 

Deepali - Transgender Person
Deepali alleges that she was forced by RPF personnel to remove her clothes and show her genitals | Photo courtesy: Deepali

We were informed that Deepali was arrested again this year and released after a few days. Attempts to contact Deepali for confirmation or denial of this information were unsuccessful.

"They Called us 'Duplicate People' and Ordered us to Remove Our Clothes"

Another shocking account from Sonia exposes the deep-seated bias and brutality faced by transgender individuals at the hands of law enforcement. Sonia states: “Muskan and I w

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