GUWAHATI: Assam's first transgender advocate Swati Bidhan Baruah found herself on the other side of the law as Baruah was arrested by the police on March 1, 2024.
However, the arrest took a tumultuous turn when a mob reportedly ransacked Swati Baruah's office in the aftermath of her detention.
The chain of events leading to this point began with Swati filing a rape complaint against one of her office staff members, Mansoor, a 20-year-old resident of Pandu. Subsequently, Mansoor was arrested. However, he secured bail a few days before these recent developments.
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Mansoor's family asserted that Swati was allegedly pressuring him into marriage, a claim that added complexity to an already delicate situation. Unable to meet a lawyer's demand for a substantial sum of ₹2 lakh for Mansoor's legal defense, the young man found himself caught in a web of familial expectations and societal shame. Later, Mansoor chose a tragic path, opting for suicide.
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Talking to GPlus, a police official from Jalukbari police station said, "Mansoor's mother filed a complaint attributing her son's death to Swati. The victim's family asserts that Mansoor was facing pressure to marry. Swati Bidhan Baruah has been arrested and forwarded to court."
Baruah was sent to the court at the time when the report was filed.
Advocate Swati Bidhan Baruah had made history by becoming a Lok Adalat judge, not only contributing to the legal system but also being actively involved in human rights work. Baruah had dedicated efforts to establish an organization advocating for the rights of transgender individuals, working towards a more inclusive society.
Further investigation is underway.