A transgender police constable in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district police force had to be hospitalized after she attempted suicide on camera, alleging that three of her superiors at her workplace had been harassing her. R Nasriya, 22, is Ramanathapuram district police force’s first transgender constable.
Following a legal battle, Nasriya had in August 2018 joined the police force. She had earlier approached the Madurai bench of Madras High Court and they gave her an order and let her appear for a physical fitness test and an endurance test, after the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board refused to conduct them during the 2017 recruitment.
Video clip released by Nasriya
A 1:48-minute long selfie video clip released by Nasriya showed her consuming a drink mixed with poison and revealing that this extreme step was being taken by her due to harassment by her superiors, claiming that they “behaved indecently” and ‘teased’ her, reported Hindustan Times.
“I am taking this extreme step because the three behaved indecently and made me suffer a lot by teasing and torturing. They are solely responsible for my death. Friends, please share this clipping with others and get the officials responsible for my death punished,” she said in her video. She also stated that Inspector Muthuramalingam, SSI Jayaseelan and writer Parthiban will be responsible.
After police saw her video, she was rushed to Ramanathapuram Government Hospital. After a stomach wash, her condition is now better and she will be discharged soon.
What the police have to say
A departmental inquiry has been ordered by District Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Meena into Nasriya’s complaint. Police said that she had recently been shifted to the SP office’s passport section after she complained of being harassed in the Armed Reserve battalion, but instead of reporting for duty, she attempted suicide.
Police officials also said that a similar complaint regarding some of her superiors had been raised by her some months ago with the superintendent of police Omprakash Meena, but it was closed by the deputy superintendent of the police-level officer who inquired into it since he had found the allegations to be false.
The Logical Indian take
Fighting the odds is not easy for transgenders in our country. Most of these transmen and transwomen face ostracisation in society. They are not accepted by their families. Leaving home due to prejudices and ostracisation, they are often left on the roads trying to beg, borrow or steal to fill their empty stomach. We as a society are not better too. We treat them with disrespect and deny them a dignified way of life. They are often denied jobs even if they have the required qualification for the same.
If and when they go in a professional environment, they are harassed, teased and made fun of. This pushes them into the dark realm of depression. The daily abuse forces them to take harsh steps like committing suicide. It is high time society treats them with compassion, respect and equality.
Also Read: Durga Puja Festivities: Kolkata’s Transgenders Organise Their First Puja Where Everyone Is Welcome
