Attired in smart-fit khakhi uniform and blue beret, constable Lalit Kumar Salve saluted his superiors here on Tuesday and rejoined duty a month after undergoing sex realignment surgery.
Appearing cheerful and confident in his new 'avatar', the policeman, earlier called Lalita Kumari Salve, walked in the Majalgaon Police Station and reported to Senior Police Inspector Raju Talekar.
This was the first case of a sex change operation for a woman police officer who became a policeman in the country and continues to remain in the force after clearing tremendous hurdles, court, political and administrative battles and emerging successful.
A Rebirth of Sorts
My life has changed after the operation. It’s like a rebirth for me... It is a very happy day for my family, me... The feelings I experience are beyond description, but we are overwhelmed.Lalit Salve to reporters
He said he felt more confident now as a man and would sport the dark blue beret meant for male constables.
Lalita Kumari Salve was admitted to St George Hospital in Mumbai on 22 May and after successful surgery, was discharged as Lalit Kumar Salve a week ago.
In 2014, Lalit had realised that he did not want to be a woman. After a series of tests, medicos finally advised him to undergo a sex realignment surgery in 2016 as a permanent solution.
“In the absence of due medical care from the state or police department, I continued to live under serious mental trauma and social stigma,” Salve had said in his petition before the Bombay High Court seeking permission to undergo a sex realignment surgery and continue in the police force as a policeman.
The BA Literature graduate's issue caught the media attention and later Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked the Director-General of Police Satish Mathur to favourably look into the case.
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