Kerala top cop directs to hasten transgenders' grievance redressal

In his message to district police chiefs, Lokanath Behera directed action against police personnel in case of any unacceptable behaviour or lapse from their side while dealing with complaints from transgenders.

Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of complaints regarding atrocities against transgenders galore, Kerala police chief Lokanath Behera has instructed his department that there should not be any reluctance or delay in addressing the grievances of the persons belonging to the third gender.

In his message to district police chiefs, Behera directed action against police personnel in case of any unacceptable behaviour or lapse from their side while dealing with complaints from transgenders. The Director-General of Police's instruction comes at a time when there were several complaints that the law enforcers were not handling the complaints of the transgender community seriously and thus denied them justice.

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Many transgender activists have complained of the cold response of police officers when they approach the stations with a complaint. "If a transgender person complains of injustice or aggression, it should be probed thoroughly and legal action should be taken immediately. Do not treat them badly for any reason," the DGP said.

Noting that it was imperative to protect the rights of transgenders as a marginalised group, the police chief also said it was the objective of the state government to bring them to the mainstream and enable their social, economic and cultural upliftment. Therefore, these instructions must be strictly followed.

Kerala was the first state to unveil a transgender policy in the country, envisaging end of the societal stigma towards the transgenders and ensuring non-discriminatory treatment. Despite several transgender-friendly initiatives, the state had also witnessed several cases of harassment and violence against the members of the marginalised group.

PTI