KATHMANDU, July 4: A Nepali working for an Indian in Jammu has allegedly been coerced into having his phallus cut off in a bid to change his gender, according to police. Police said the incident involved one Surendra Singh Maal, 22, who was working as household help in Jammu.“A medical examination has established that his penis was cut off,'' said SP Dinesh Acharya in Kanchanpur. Police had sent Maal for a medical test at Mahakali Zonal Hospital after his family lodged a complaint demanding action against his Indian employer.

The family had been taken by surprise when he returned home dressed as a woman.“I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. I recognized him only when he started talking about family matters. It's painful to see him looking like a woman,'' said his mother Gangadevi. Maal, a high school graduate, had left home in search of work three years ago along with some relatives. Police said he was initially working at a hotel in Jammu. But he ran away from the hotel after a regular customer named Guruji, allegedly a third gender offered to pay him twice as much for household work. Maal narrated a harrowing tale of cruelty at his new workplace.

He was held hostage and forced into sex work at a local bar. He said he made multiple attempts to escape but with little success. He was then forced to sign a document giving his consent for a gender change operation.“He (Guruji) threatened to kill me if I didn't sign. I was forced to consent in the presence of a lawyer,'' he added. After signing the document, he was taken to a hospital in Chandigarh where he was rendered unconscious.“When I regained consciousness after five days, my phallus had been cut off,'' Maal said. His family went to the police but they had to return empty-handed.“There is nothing we can do since the incident occurred in India. We have suggested his family file a complaint in India,'' said DSP Acharya.

 
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