Transgender devotees allege harassment at Pampa

As many as 15 transgender devotees were allegedly forced to return from Pampa on Saturday (January 10, 2025) after the police denied them permission to trek up the hill to Sabarimala.

According to Arjun Geetha, a member of the State Transgender Justice Board, the devotees, who had arrived from different parts of Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad, were stopped by the police at Pampa and asked to undergo verification to confirm their gender status. “We held discussions with senior police officials, but there was no positive outcome. Frustrated by the situation, the devotees eventually decided not to proceed,” he said.

The incident has triggered outrage within the transgender community, which is now planning to lodge a formal complaint with the Kerala government, alleging harassment and discrimination.

A police official said there is a standing instruction not to allow women of menstruating age to proceed beyond Pampa, as any deviation could lead to law-and-order issues. The official added that transgender devotees would be permitted to climb the hill only if they carried valid documents confirming their gender status.