Police Abuse in Kerala.

[Guest guest]

THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, Thiruvananthapuram

SUB: HUMILIATION, INSULT AND ABUSE BY AN ASI AND DRIVER ON 20th JUNE 2003

This is to take your kind attention on the incident dated 20th June.

We are working among sexworkers to prevent the spread of AIDS and for their

human rights. We have a counseling project named Thrani,a home for the Sex

workers children(Chilla) and a program for the Sex workers(Anasooya).We

have informed the local police station and other concerned officials like

Circle Inspector, Peroorkkada and along with you, when we started our

office in the above address.

Running a drop-in-center for sexworkers in a city suburb is a difficult and

sensitive thing. So we contacted the Residents association there and opened

a dialogue. We kept it at a low key and though with reluctance the

president of the Association agreed to go along with it. He and some of the

residents understood the need of the hour. Without a drop-in-center the

AIDS prevention projects won't work. The Government projects all over

Kerala also face this predicament. Our project is run by the National

Network of Sex Workers with its headquarters in Kolkata. Till the last

February, we were doing a similar project in Kovalam under the State AIDS

Control Society (KSACS). Another project run by another voluntary

organization, SOMA, is still running in Uppalam Road, near Statue under

KSACS. The projects all over Kerala are running without changing the

existing laws criminalizing the premises of sexwork. The NGOs who take up

the projects brunt all the ire from the public. So we do it knowing the

difficulties involved.

Our project was running smoothly for the last six months, though with some

opposition from a section of the nearby residents. We were able to clarify

the situation and kept our dialogue with them going. It is a balancing act

and we needed support from all the quarters, especially the police. Till

yesterday that was our experience. On 20th June an unfortunate incident

happened. One of the sexworkers, who used the drop-in-center from the

beginning, got inebriated with alcohol and got violent. Our staff could not

manage and phoned me for support. They sought help and the police arrived

without much delay. The residents who were keeping aloof till then came to

the scene.

We needed the help of police and were quiet relaxed when the police came.

But the ASI and the driver behaved so badly. They questioned us as we were

culprits and did not allow us to call the head of the institution or to

take a copy of the letter we have already submitted to the concerned police

authorities. My(subhash) finger was injured and was bleeding and they did

not allow me to get it dressed.

The police who came to help us on our emergency call created such a scene.

The ASI and the Driver called us " Da.. " " Da.. " and " do not be smart " and

all other abusive words, which is not printable. He shouted to get us

inside the police jeep, which we resisted. Then he raised his hands to beat

us. We could see his intention was to humiliate us and be a hero in front

of the crowd gathered. We tried to explain our situation but he ridiculed

us and all of them laughed. He threatened us and warned us of the sheer

consequences of RUNNING A BROTHEL

The Sex worker who was drunk, street based and uneducated never behaved to

us this badly when she is sane. It is understandable and we are all

responsible for what she is. But a responsible police officer (and on his

inspiration even the driver) behaved very indecently inside our office and

towards the officers in charge. They disturbed us from completing our work

and ordered to close the office.

We never had such a severe teasing in our life time. He knew that we are

educated people, responsible citizens and have equal responsibility in

serving the society. But it was a shock and we cannot recover from it. If

people involved in serious social, human rights and charitable works are

treated in similar fashion what is the fate of people involved in criminal

activities? We sought justice which was blatantly denied. We request you to

mend it.

Our social problems are so complex and traditional approaches and attitudes

to manage crisis situations are sometimes found obsolete. We lack people to

work for the rights of the marginalized people. Only very few educated

people (who are otherwise also capable to get white color jobs) are

involved in social intervention programs like ours. We know the

difficulties and social pressures from all circles. Still we take it as a

commitment. The judgmental and biased attitudes are vitiating the culture

to work with marginalized people. The ASI and the driver are also keeping

the same value system and the outfits of such a society. It's our personal

integrity and quality that help us to devote our time and service to such

causes. May be your ASI and driver could not reach to this level of

understanding. It is no body's fault. We accept people as they are. They do

what they are learned and as they tuned. Police some times do and act

irresponsibly against law. Some uniforms and positions make some people

feel that they are above everything and every one. Yet there should be some

different learning opportunities to all. Let them take some time to think

again and improve their behavior and change their attitudes.

We have registerd an official complaint against the concerned ASI

Mr.Mohammed Shafi and the driver as individuals for the psychological

damage, social damage and personal damage created only because of a sheer

lack of maturity and a plain show of irresponsibility by a police official

while handling such a very sensitive issue.We request you to take necessary

action against the two police personnel involved. We will forward this

complaint to police officials in the higher rank and go to the court on a

similar fashion if necessary action is not taken.

Yours truly,

Jyothi,

Kumar.V,

Subhash.T.V (Administrative Officer) (Regional Co-ordinator)

Sex Workers Forum Kerala

ANASOOYA, PTPN.E.31 PTP Nagar Post, Trivandrum, South India

Pin 695038, Kerala. Phone # ++91 + 471 + 2368142

Copies to: SI of Vattiyoorkavu, CI of Peroorkkada; South Zone IG; Human

Rights Commission, the Governor, Home Minister, MLAs, MPs, Political

Parties and the Media

Visit us: http://www.firmkerala.org/projects/swfk/index.htm

Moderator's note; the following information may be of interest.

Official web site of Kerla police

http://www.keralapolice.org/

TVM city police

http://www.trivandrumcitypolice.com/

Unofficial web site of Kerla police

http://www.geocities.com/iwantoknowit/