Auraiya police arrest father for alleged attempt to kill daughter over her gender identity

Auraiya police on Wednesday arrested a man for allegedly attempting to murder his 14-year-old daughter, targeting her over what he described as her transgender characteristics. The accused, a resident of Kotwali Shivli area in Kanpur Dehat, is accused of assaulting the minor with a stick and throwing her into the Patna canal before fleeing, police said.

The girl survived because the water level in the canal was low, allowing her to drift toward the bank, where local residents heard her cries and pulled her out. She was initially taken to a community health centre and later shifted to a higher medical facility in Kanpur given the severity of her injuries, including trauma to her right eye and multiple wounds across her body.

According to the police account, the father picked up his daughter on a scooter, telling her he would drop her at her aunt's house in Bidhuna. On the route between the villages of Baderahar and Bunchpur, he allegedly stopped, verbally abused her with slurs about her gender identity, and beat her repeatedly before dumping her into the canal.

Inspector Lalitesh Narayan Tripathi, station house officer of Bela police station, and Santosh Kumar, in charge of the Purwa Sujan outpost, reached the spot after being alerted by bystanders and transported the girl for medical aid. Dr Jitendra Kumar, posted at the CHC, said the child had serious injuries and was referred for advanced care.

Police conducted a raid soon after the complaint and detained the father. During questioning, the accused reportedly admitted to the assault, claiming he was angered by what he termed her transgender behaviour and alleging she was influencing her younger sister. He has been taken into custody, and further legal proceedings are underway.

The incident highlights the vulnerability faced by children who do not conform to traditional gender expectations and underscores the importance of legal and social safeguards for such individuals. Authorities have assured that the girl is receiving necessary medical and psychological support.