After being acquitted of the >rape and assault charges levelled by her live-in partner, Asian Games gold medallist Pinki Pramanik wants to get back on the track.
Ms. Pramanik was accused by Anamika Acharya of being a man and of raping her. Eventually, Ms. Pramanik was arrested on June 14, 2012 and had to undergo medical examination to confirm her gender.
On Friday, the Calcutta High Court exonerated the athlete of all charges of rape and assault, and from Saturday, things started looking up for her. She re-joined duty as Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE).
“My dream now is to get back on track,” said an elated Pinki. “I am buying a fresh pair of shoes and want to get back to running. My friends and colleagues are also encouraging me,” she told The Hindu on Sunday.
She was away from sports for the past two years and getting back on the track would be a challenge. “Perhaps a bigger challenge than before.”
Ms. Pramanik had been working “on and off” over the last two years. “Earlier, I had to hear a lot of lewd comments from passengers.” But things changed dramatically after the court order.
“On Saturday, while I was checking the tickets at Sealdah station, the passengers smiled, nodded and approached me. They congratulated and encouraged me for fighting it out in the court of law…” she stopped to clear her throat, “…some sought my autographs.”
Soon after her arrest on June 2012, the athlete was put behind bars for 25 days before being granted bail. While in custody, Ms. Pramanik had alleged that a forced gender test was conducted on her at the behest of the police. The humiliation did not end there. The athlete was referred to as “male” in police records and was escorted by male police officers. An MMS of the gender-test was leaked resulting in further embarrassment for the athlete. The treatment meted out to Ms. Pramanik attracted severe criticism from across the world.
She said activists and individuals stood by her when she was harassed and now she would like to do the same. “I will lend my support to others. On Monday, I will participate in a rally at Esplanade for the rights of refugees,” she said.
Ms. Pramanik, who was born in the remote village of West Bengal’s Purulia district, came to the city in 2002. On her future plans, she says: “I want to start a sports academy in Baghmundi block of Purulia, on a piece of land that I purchased.”
