An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) attached to the women cell was suspended on Tuesday after a video clip of a half-naked transgender person, allegedly recorded inside the Alappuzha South police station while in custody, went viral.
Earlier in the day, District Police Chief S. Surendran ordered a probe into the incident and sought a report from the Special Branch DySP.
ASI R. Sreelatha was suspended for sharing the video clip, which she recorded with another transgender person.
According to the police, it was the transgender person who received the video later circulated it on the social media.
Earlier, a video clip purportedly showing a transgender started circulating on social media platforms with the description “an incident at the Alappuzha police station.”
Ruckus at shop
According to officers, the transgender person was taken into police custody following a ruckus at a shop at Irumbupalam in Alappuzha on March 22.
“The person was taken into custody by policewomen and brought to the police station in an inebriated state. The person refused to undergo medical examination and created a ruckus. Later, the person started undressing in front of the officers and we let the person go without charge. In between, someone had recorded a video and circulated it,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, district transgender justice board member Geethu C.A said that the transgender person was at fault.
Ms. Geethu said:
“Officers contacted me after taking the transgender person into custody. One of our board members went to the police station. The person was drunk and attacked the board member. Later, the person attacked two women police officers on duty and undressed in front of everyone.
“We came to know that after creating unruly scenes on Thursday night, the person absconded from the police station the next morning. However, at the same time it is highly condemnable on the part of the police personnel to record and circulate a video like this.”
