Global AIDS - India

Police abuse in Kerala - June 30, 2003

To: THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, Thiruvananthapuram

A report on:
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 counselling 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 if we were the 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 registered official complaints.

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 Kerala police
http://www.keralapolice.org/

TVM city police
http://www.trivandrumcitypolice.com/

Unofficial web site of Kerla police
http://www.geocities.com/iwantoknowit/