Update :

*Email from Sudha Ramalingam

Dear All,

After I spoke to the Woman SI of police in the Thiru.Vi.Ka. Police Station, Preethi has been allowed to go with Sangama activists. But the painful thing is that despite my repeated statements that Preethi being an adult needs to just tell that she is on her-on free will and need not tell with whom she is leaving etc. the SI insisted on Preethi giving in writing the fact of her leaving with Sangama activists. The police refused to understand that woman can live on her on where ever she wants when she is an adult. This reiterates my belief that police has to be sensitized on issues of the fundamental rights of citizens to live and assemble etc.

Regards,

Sudha

20+ year old, Preethi, has been detained at the Thiru Vi Ka Police Station (Chennai) since 20th September. Preethi, a former employee of Jaya TV, came out as a lesbian about 2 months ago, and has expressed her desire to be with her partner. Predictably, she has run into opposition with her family who want her to get married to a man against her wishes. She left home. The family proffered a Missing Person complaint to the Police. When Preethi, in keeping with the law, showed up at the Thiru Vi Ka Police Station to demonstrate that she is not missing and has left her home of her own free will, the Police detained her and began harassing the Sangama (gay and lesbian support organisation) activists. As a 20+ year old woman,

Preethi is free to make her own choices without interference from family or police. This is yet another instance of moral policing.

Please take action by sending an sms to the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, demanding Preethi’s release and an end to harassment of Sangama activists.

“Please take action to release Preethi, a 21 year old, detained by Thiru Vi Ka police because of her sexual orientation. Stop harassing Sangama activists.”

Numbers to which this complaint has to be sent by sms:

Commissioner of Police: 9500983832
Inspector in-charge, Prakash: 9841070791