NAGPUR: Some street cops here are having a gala time indulging in blatant illegal extortion of young men, while the top brass hide behind the smoke-screen of ‘complaints are not registered’. All the cops need to do is to find two men together in quiet places, pounce on them, accuse them of being ‘gay’ and try to extort money threatening them with the draconian IPC 377.

Recently local media reported that two young men were alone in a secluded part of the city when they were spotted by the local neighbourhood watch. Thinking them to be theives, they called the police. Noting that one of the guys was effeminate, the police asked them whether they were gay. The men were taken to the police station, locked up for the entire night and were asked for a huge sum of money so that a complaint was not registered against them for indulging in ‘indecent acts’ which are forbidden under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

[Note: the IPC clearly states that ‘penetration’ must be proved beyond doubt for the charges to stick, it is the so-called ‘carnal act’ which is punishable, not being together, walking together, or even living together. But who’s to argue with a corrupt cop, right?]

Earlier this week, the police got wind of a man in a hospital after overdosing on sleeping pills. During the subsequent inquiry, the cops came to know that he had attempted suicide because of a tough break-up with his boyfriend. They told him that not only woud they charge him for attempted suicide, they could incriminate him for being gay. After he coughed up an amount for the ‘adjustment’ they left after slapping charges of attempted suicide on him.

“Such instances are becoming increasingly common. Cops only know that Section 377 criminalizes gay sex without realizing that they cannot punish someone they have not caught red-handed in a compromising position. Often, they visit the pick up points where gay men meet and extort money from them,” informed gay rights activist Anand Chandrani.

He added that in other instances, it has been enough for a person to acknowledge being gay for police to start harassing and blackmailing. Fear of being ‘outed’ to family or society keeps them from taking any action against such cops.

Legal experts say that since the police are public officials, one can’t stop them from performing their duties. However, the legality of their actions can only be challenged before a proper forum like their seniors, judiciary or home department. Now the corrupt cops are banking on the fact that their victims don’t want to be ‘outed’ and so the poor dumb homos continue to be their prey.

When told about this trend, joint commissioner of police Rajvardhan said that he cannot take any action against erring police officers until a formal complaint is made. “We will ensure that if such things are happening, they stop,” he said. He also said that the identity of anyone who wants to make such a complaint will be kept under wraps and invited people over to his office to inform him of such instances.

What society needs is to stand up to homophobic and corrupt cops. Once the friends and neighbours of gay victims are ready to accompany them when they file their complaints, and the police know that civil society will not tolerate their bullying, these disgusting antics of the cops will stop, a social activist said.

What’s needed is an Indian Stonewall to really shake up the queer  the rights movement in India, and as long as the Indian queers and queens and gays and panthis as well as the transgenders take the beatings and keep quiet, they can say bye-bye to any hopes for civil rights under the present homophobic religious right-leaning dispensation.

  Gay, LGBT, Rainbow, transgender