Nine Transgenders Join Chhattisgarh Police’s ‘Bastar Fighters’ To Fight Maoist Insurgents

In a major step towards inclusivity, the Chhattisgarh Police has recruited nine people from the transgender community into the force.

Bobins Abraham

They are among the 2,100 constables selected for ‘Bastar Fighters’, a newly raised specialised unit of the Chhattisgarh police which will be deployed in the Maoist-hit Bastar division of the state.

Nine Transgenders Join Chhattisgarh Police

In 2018, the Chhattisgarh government had announced to recruit transgender in police force to be deployed in Maoist-hit areas.

In 2021, for the first time 13 transgenders were recruited by the Chhattisgarh Police, but they were not deployed in Maoist areas till now.

“Since transgender persons will be inducted for the first time in police in the Bastar range, we are confident that it would add a new dimension and perspective to policing in the region,” Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said.

chhattisgarh police recruitment

From rejection to becoming a cop

Of the nine successful candidates from the third gender, eight are from Kanker district and one from Bastar district.

They will undergo training at the Police Training School Mana, Raipur before their induction for duties.

“We would try to provide a conducive work atmosphere and facilities to third gender police personnel, so that they don’t feel any kind of discrimination within the force” the IG said.

25-year-old Ratnu is one of the nine transgenders who have been recruited by the police.

“I never thought even in my dreams that I would be a cop. Despite facing odds in society and families, I have made it,” she said.

According to her, she had to face rejections and taunts from family and friends over her sexuality.

“I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree from a Kanker college and I was also in the National Cadet Corps (NCC). My friends and even my trainer used to taunt and tease me there. Even when I applied for Bastar Fighters, people in my village used to laugh at me. But when I cleared the physical test, a turnaround happened and everyone started praising me,” she said.

How Bastar Fighters is different

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s government had decided to establish a separate force, ‘Bastar Fighters’, to exclusively recruit local youths who are familiar with the region’s culture, language, terrain and have a bond with tribals, and made it the lynchpin in the fight against the Naxal movement.

As many as 2,100 posts were approved for recruitment — 300 each from the seven districts of the region – Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sukma and Kondagaon.

“Members of security forces had to face many difficulties and challenges vis-a-vis people in the interior forest region as they didn’t have sufficient knowledge about the local dialects. The Bastar Fighters will help bridge this gap,” said Sundarraj.

Courtesy : India Times

Note: This news piece was originally published in indiatimes.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights