Pinki Pramanik

Anyone following the rape case? All I have to say is what the hell is going on? I am genuinely baffled. A simple rape case (ok, maybe not) has brought out so much insanity surrounding homosexuality and transgender issues. Not to mention police issues but we all knew those. And are only men capable of rape?

Not following the case, but yes... Both Men and Women are capable of raping/molesting another person.

@MB,

whats this case about it, would like to go through it, and no rape is a criminal offense and can happen to anyone irrespective of the gender, yet people are not open or willing to discuss sexual harrassment cases of men,maybe coz of the wierd perception about homosexuality and plain ignorance.

Yeah, I heard about that.

There are two accusations here. The claim she is male and the rape are separate.

Originally posted by: Chitrashi

What interests me about the case is the whole question of how we as a society treat the Transgender community, as well as our attitudes towards homosexuality.

Often when we see transgenders on the streets, we get angry that why don't they get a job since they are so healthy and look physically capable of manual labor. We forget at the time that we ourselves have made it impossible for them to enter any educational institute by asking them to fill their gender on the admission form. Be it education, job, insurance, hospitalization, travel, census, voting - everywhere the government recognises only two genders.

Has anyone read Pinki's interview in the papers today? If you haven't here's the link:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pinki-Pramanik-I-was-humiliated-and-treated-like-an-animal/articleshow/14828946.cms?

Pinki Pramanik: I was humiliated and treated like an animal

Pinki Pramanik walked out of jail on Wednesday but said she'd been scarred for life by the way the police behaved with her. Excerpts from an interview with TOI

These last 25 days must've been very difficult.

It has been a traumatizing, painful and humiliating experience. I was treated like an animal. It has left a big scar on my psyche and image. I don't know how many years it will take to get out of this nightmare.

What kind of humiliation were you subjected to?

First, it was the Baguiati police that humiliated me. They picked me up on the night of June 13, took me to Uma Nursing Home and forced me to undergo a medical test. I refused but they tied my hands and feet and gave me an injection. I fell unconscious. The test was done when I regained my senses. Also, I had to face medical examinations repeatedly which was both traumatic and humiliating. They could have done it in one go.

What do you have to say about the rape charge that has been brought against you?

All the charges, including that of rape, are fabricated. In fact it was the girl who deceived me and was blackmailing me for money. I came to know her real name only after I had been arrested. I always knew her as Shilpi but she turned out to be ------ (TOI is withholding her name). She was my neighbour and was abandoned by her husband. She offered to help me with housework and requested me to let her stay in my house. I agreed because she appeared to be a nice woman. Over time, a friendship developed between us. She took advantage of it and started blackmailing me for money. I would often give her things to use which she never returned. She took a gold chain from me and refused to give it back. I kept pestering her to return it but she didn't listen.

Finally, I asked her to leave my house and said that if she did not, I would go away. I did leave my own house and live in the Sealdah railway quarters for about a week. A day before the arrest, she called me to say that she was leaving and that I should return. I believed her and came back, only to find that she has charged me with rape. I was stunned.

How did the police behave with you?

The Baguiati police behaved in an inhuman fashion with me. If I am accused of rape, shouldn't the alleged victim be put through a medical test? But they didn't. Instead, I was forced to undergo test after test and charged with rape even before the test results were out. Doesn't this make it clear that the police were wrong? Also, I was escorted by male police personnel, which was unfair.

What is in your mind now?

I started running at the age of eight and looked up to PT Usha as my role model. I wanted to be in her shoes. (A long pause). I could have achieved a lot more but for the accident in 2007. It made it difficult to continue as an athlete so I retired in 2010. All I want now is to go back to a normal life. But I realize that it will be hard. I am shaken and shattered. But I must pick up the pieces. I am the only earning member of my family. I am mentally prepared for a long legal battle. But first, I have to return to normal life as soon as possible. And of course, I want to get acquitted and get my job back.

Who shot the MMS clip?

The girl shot it. I came to know about it in jail from a neighbour. It was a big shock. The clip has made it all the more difficult for me to face the world. It is a huge setback for me. I think a video clip was also taken at the nursing home when I was lying unconscious. Despite what happened I would appeal to the people to have faith in me. It pains me to see people who were close to me and trusted me feeling let down. I have not committed any crime and I am sure that truth will prevail.

It has been alleged that you have sold off the land that you received from the state government on the EM Bypass?

It's a lie spread by the girl. I have certainly not sold the land.