Kolkata: Transwomen Heading To RG Kar Hospital For Protests Allegedly Groped By RPF Personnel

A group of transwomen heading to RG Kar Medical College for a protest filed an FIR alleging that one of them was groped by an RPF constable at the Rabindra Sadan metro station to "check her gender."

The incident, which occurred on Friday evening, was captured in a video where the transwoman appeared in tears while the accused constable avoided the camera.

Photo Credit: PTI

The group also shared footage online and presented a written apology on a blank paper stamped with "Kolkata Metro", reported Times of India.

According to the 27-year-old Kasba resident, the constable touched her breast while making a lewd remark, claiming to be checking if it was "real or fake."

She described the experience as shocking and humiliating, adding, "I told the security personnel that I was not a terrorist and he could check my bag."

One of her companions intervened, leading to a heated exchange.

A 29-year-old transwoman, also present, recounted another incident where a male security officer grabbed her hand and tried to lead her to a room, asking, "Aap thoda shant hain, thoda andar room mein chalke baaten karte hain (you are a quiet person, let us go to a room and talk). Will any male cop do that to a biological female?"

In response, RPF and Metro Railway denied the allegations, stating that CCTV footage revealed no wrongdoing by the RPF personnel.

A spokesperson for Metro Railway said, "None of these protestors were stopped or touched by any RPF personnel as has been alleged."

The situation escalated when around 20 transwomen and rights activists rushed to the station upon hearing the news.

A 25-year-old transwoman present at the scene expressed her frustration, saying, "The RPF is supposed to ensure the safety of commuters. But in this case, they turned perpetrators. Can't we be part of society and show solidarity with the RG Kar rape-murder victim?"

The Bhowanipore Police Station registered a case under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights, 2019) Act.

An investigating officer stated, "We are collecting CCTV footage and footage from the group. We will conduct a preliminary probe and send a legal notice to the accused RPF personnel to join the probe. Their statements will be verified, and the next course of action decided."

Metro Railway provided a different account, claiming that 10-15 transgender commuters entered Rabindra Sadan station around 6:20 PM on Thursday, shouting "We Want Justice" slogans.

Despite requests from an RPF lady constable and other personnel to cease, the group continued, blocking station gates and hindering passenger movement. A Metro Railway spokesperson said, "In order to solve the problem, RPF personnel also apologised to them. Ultimately, they left the station premises at 11:20 PM."