KOLKATA: A gaggle of transwomen who have been heading to RG Kar Medical Faculty on Friday to affix the protest have filed an FIR alleging that certainly one of them was groped by an RPF constable to test her ‘gender’ at Rabindra Sadan metro station.
A video seize of the incident exhibits the transwoman in tears whereas the alleged accused is seen attempting to keep away from the digicam.Her companions went dwell on social media. Different footage launched by activists who’re preventing the case present the station supervisor intervening and cops coming in however the accused RPF personnel is nowhere to be seen. The group additionally produced a duplicate of a written apology on a clean paper that carries a ‘Kolkata Metro’ stamp.
RPF and Metro Railway have denied the allegations and filed a counter FIR in opposition to the transwomen, accusing them of elevating slogans and making an attempt to disturb peace.
The alleged incident occurred on Friday night when three transwomen reached Rabindra Sadan metro station after taking part in a protest by the group close to Academy of High quality Arts and purchased tickets until Shyambazar. Whereas two of them have been allowed entry to the platform, the third, a 27-year-old Kasba resident, was allegedly stopped by an RPF constable.
“I informed the safety personnel that I used to be not a terrorist and he may test my bag. Out of the blue the constable touched my breast to test my gender and made a lewd comment that he was checking if it was actual or pretend. I’m shocked and humiliated,” the 27-year-old stated. A heated alternate adopted, with certainly one of her companions pushing again the constable. “CCTV footage was seen many times by our officers and it clearly revealed that the RPF personnel wasn’t at fault. None of those protestors have been stopped or touched by any RPF personnel as has been alleged,” a Metro Railway spokesperson stated.
“Once we began protesting, one other male safety particular person got here and pressed my hand and pulled me saying, ‘aap thoda shant hain, thora andar room mein chalke baaten karte hain (you’re a quiet particular person, allow us to go to a room and discuss)’. Will any male cop do this to a organic feminine?” stated a 29-year-old transwoman, who’s a make-up artist by career. A commotion adopted with round 20 transwomen and rights activists dashing to the spot on listening to the information.
“The RPF is meant to make sure security of commuters. However on this case they turned perpetrators. Cannot we be a part of society and present solidarity with the RG Kar rape-murder sufferer,” stated one other transwoman, a 25-year-old who was on the spot along with her mom.
A case below Transgender Individuals (Safety of Rights, 2019), was registered at Bhowanipore Police Station. “We’re accumulating CCTV footage and photographs from the group. We’ll conduct a preliminary probe and ship a authorized discover to the accused RPF personnel to affix the probe. Their statements will probably be verified and the subsequent plan of action determined,” stated an investigating officer.
“RPF is a central company and it’s shameful that its personnel will not be even sensitised about transgender rights,” stated transgender activist and former member of West Bengal Transgender Improvement Board, Ranjita Sinha who needed to rushed to assist her colleagues out.
In accordance with Metro Railway, 10-15 transgender commuters entered Rabindra Sadan station round 6.20 pm on Thrusday and began shouting “We Need Justice” slogans. An RPF woman constable and different RPF personnel requested them not to take action because it was disturbing different passengers however they refused to pay heed and started arguing with them.
Additionally they blocked the north facet station gates that hindered passengers’ motion. Some commuters have been additionally assaulted. A sub-inspector and different RPF personnel reached the spot from Kalighat submit and tried to pacify the commuters. Once they failed, Bhowanipore police station was knowledgeable. Cops arrived and tried to convey the state of affairs below management however the chaos continued for hours. So as to clear up the issue, RPF personnel additionally apologised to them. In the end they left the station premises at 11.20 pm,” a Metro Railway spokesperson stated.
