RAJKOT: A 21-year-old transperson working as an artist was subjected to brutal humiliation in public view y a group of eunuchs who stripped her naked on a public road, alleging that she was faking eunuchs and seeking money from people.
The transperson, Payal Rathwa, was so traumatized that she had locked herself inside her house since Monday night. The eunuchs forced her to expose her private genitals in public view, thrashed her and recorded a video of the humiliating act.
After the video was shared in some groups, LGBTQ activists in Maharashtra initited a social media campaign #justiceforpayalrathwa on Facebook and Instagram.
Another eunuch is heard in the video saying that Payal is opposing Kinnar Akhada which is the traditional set up of the community. They even forced Payal to admit that she is a ‘fake’ eunuch.
Payal is actively associated with local voluntary organization, Chitranagri, which promotes art in public places by engaging budding painters and artists. She has gained expertise in Varli paintings of tribal communities.
Talking to TOI, Payal said, “I am an independent transperson running a group of LGBTQ people. The eunuchs are unhappy as many from their community are impressed with our activities and willing to join.”
Narrating her ordeal, she alleged: “They came in a rickshaw and kidnapped me from my house. They were armed with weapons. They took me near a famous hotel on Gondal Road and forced me to undress. They also thrashed some of the workers of my group.”
Payal then called the police control room and a PCR van of A-division police station helped her reach home.
On Wednesday, she approached the police station to register an FIR, but was directed to Malaviyanagar police station as she was kidnapped from its jurisdiction.
Damini Sinha, an LGBTQ activist in Pune said, “Payal is an independent individually identified transgender woman. We have initiated a campaign to ensure justice for her.”
Sumedh Dixit who works for this community in Maharashtra said, “Earlier Payal was a part of the eunuch group, but she did not like begging. So, she left them and started earning money using her skill, which riled them. When members of the eunuch community joined Payal, they got violent with her. She had planned an art exhibition but could not out of fear of vandalism.”
Jitendra Gotecha, who runs Chitrangari, added, “Her name was Mehul when she came to use before three years. But thereafter, she became a transwoman. She is actively involved in beautifying public places and walls with paintings.”