Agartala: Allegedly compelled to get married by her lover, a trans woman was physically and mentally harassed by her in-laws after her biological gender identity came to the fore. She was bullied and had her head tonsured by her in-laws in the absence of her husband before being handed over to the police.
On being informed, members of the Tripura Transgender Welfare Board reached the West Agartala Women Police Station and took her into their custody. The members of the welfare board also demanded that the strictest possible action be initiated against those involved in the incident.
According to police, the incident occurred on Saturday night at Mohanpur in Gajaria.
Narrating her ordeal, the trans woman, Ishani Das, said, “I became friends with my husband through social media. For the last six years, we have been in a relationship. I didn’t hide anything from him. I told him that I was born biologically male, and when my parents became aware of my sexual orientation, I left home and settled in Mumbai. I have been working there at a parlour.”
According to Ishani, she was named Nayan Das at birth. When she voluntarily let go of her male identity, she adopted the name Ishani. Her parents live in their ancestral home located at Camperbazar in Agartala. The name of her partner is Akash Das, a resident of Mohanpur under West Tripura district.
“I was not willing to get married to him as I knew such relationships would never get family approval, let alone society’s acceptance. I tried convincing him not to take any decision in haste, but he was adamant. He even told me that if I refused the marriage proposal, he would commit suicide. Due to his adamant attitude, I had to quit my job and return to Agartala. Within a couple of days, our marriage was solemnised. Things were quite normal for a couple of days before his parents came to know about my gender identity,” said Ishani.
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Videos showing her being bullied and abused were circulated on social media platforms. She was also allegedly physically tortured before being handed over to the police.
On being informed, a delegation of the Tripura Transgender Welfare Board reached the West Agartala Women Police Station and rescued her. A member of the welfare board said that it was her husband who betrayed her in order to please his family.
“Despite knowing everything about her, he compelled her to enter into wedlock and when he was supposed to protect her from others, he switched sides with his family and pretended as if he didn’t know anything. We have urged the police to launch an impartial probe into the case and ensure that those involved in this incident are arrested,” said Das.
She also appealed to the public to protect the dignity of transgender persons.
“We live in a civilised society. We shouldn’t put members of the transgender community in such vulnerable situations. Society has to evolve and accept people as they are,” Das added.
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