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flashback:  An activist narrates her experiences Pic/Satish Badiger

The women and hijras, who were arrested for protesting in front of Girinagar police station a few days ago, allege that they were not only beaten up but also sexually harassed by the police.

"They grabbed our breasts and pushed us. It is not that they did not know we were women. I told them I was representing a Dalit organisation, and one of my friends, Sumathi Murthy, was from a human rights group. She is a well-known classical singer. They behaved in the same manner with her too. As per rules, women should not be kept in a police station after 6pm. But we were there till 10pm," said Yashoda P, president of Karnataka Dalit Mahila Vedike.

Beaten up

"Inspector Shivashankar Murthy was the one grabbing our breasts. ACP H T Ramesh only beat us up. Sumathi was beaten so badly that she was not able to walk for some days," she said.

Archana (name changed), a woman who likes to dress like a man and behave like one, was sexually abused by a policeman the next day.

"She was arrested with 30 other protestors who had gathered outside the police station. The next day when she was produced in court and was waiting for her turn to enter the court room, a police constable felt her private parts on the pretext of checking if she was a male or a female," said Sowmya, a member of Sangama, a sexuality minorities' organisation.

Invasion of privacy

"They pushed us by holding our breasts and touched other private parts. They beat us up too," said Sowmya, a transgender.

Chandni, the zonal co-ordinator of Sangama, urinated in the lock up itself. "I begged them to let me urinate.

But they refused and kept me in the lock-up. Unable to control myself, I had to urinate there," she said.

They will file complaints with the Human Rights Commission and Women's Commission. Besides this, a week-long programme of protests will also be held from next week. Police permission is awaited. "Other cities have come forward to support us," said E Manohar, founder, Sangama.

Policespeak

Inspector Shivshankar Murthy denied the allegations and said, "Who will sexually abuse them? Can we abuse hijras? In fact,  they are the ones who commit atrocities. They beg and extort money from shopkeepers. When people refuse to give money, they lift their skirts. We are tired of such complaints."

Demands of the Sangama

>>Dismiss the guilty policemen including H T Ramesh (ACP) and M  Shivshankar Murthy (PI); and prosecute them for the crimes (assault, abuse, sexual assault and illegal detention) committed against human rights defenders

>>Take immediate steps to stop brutal police violence (physical and sexual) against hijras and sexworkers in Bengaluru and punish the perpetrators of violence

>>Protect the rights of the hijra community for their traditional livelihood options including sex work and blessings, or provide them with a reasonable option.

>>Initiate immediate measures to fulfil obligations of the government so that hijras and other transsexuals have access to education, employment, health, housing, sex-change procedures, savings and credit facilities.