Manipur Rights Commission Intervenes in Transgender Assault Case
The Manipur Human Rights Commission has taken decisive action in a concerning case involving alleged police inaction towards a transgender woman's assault complaint. The commission has directed the Superintendent of Police of Imphal West to submit a detailed compliance report regarding the handling of the case.
Family Violence and Police Inaction
Usham Deepika Chanu, a transgender woman legally recognized as female under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, experienced a traumatic series of events beginning with a violent assault allegedly perpetrated by members of her own family. Following this incident, Deepika took the courageous step of approaching the Imphal Police Station on November 12 with a formal written complaint detailing serious cognizable offenses committed against her.
Despite the grave nature of her allegations, the police response was reportedly non-existent. No First Information Report was registered, no official statements were recorded from the victim, and no procedural steps were initiated to investigate her claims. The inaction continued even when Deepika followed up with a subsequent representation addressed directly to the Superintendent of Police on November 19, which also failed to elicit any response.
Legal Intervention Brings Hope
The situation took a positive turn when the matter came before the Manipur Human Rights Commission. After hearing the case, acting chairperson K Khagendra Singh issued clear directives to the Imphal West SP. The commission ordered the police official to issue appropriate instructions to the officer-in-charge of Imphal Police Station and to submit a comprehensive compliance report before the commission by December 22.
Meihoubam Rakesh, legal counsel representing Deepika, emphasized the broader significance of this case in an official statement. While the order brings immediate relief to Deepika, it also brings into focus a much deeper and more troubling reality, Rakesh noted. Incidents of violence, intimidation, humiliation, economic deprivation, and forced suppression of gender identity are experienced by a significant number of transgender people within their own families and households.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by transgender individuals in accessing justice and protection, even when legal frameworks exist to safeguard their rights. The MHRC's intervention represents a crucial step toward accountability and proper implementation of transgender protection laws in Manipur.
