After questions on gender,Pinki Pramanik now faces MMS ordeal

The clip was reportedly circulated after the athlete’s physical examination test at Uma Medical,where she was taken following her arrest on June 14. The nursing home in its report claimed that Pramanik was male.

It’s still unclear if Pramanik was aware of the MMS after she was whisked away by police officials but her counsel,Tuhin Roy,said he will bring the matter to court’s notice at the next hearing on July 12. “I have heard about the MMS,though I haven’t seen it. If the clip is not doctored or pirated then the authorities must be held responsible for an act as deplorable as this.

“I also spoke to the police on the issue but they said they could only act on an FIR. The problem is that at the moment no one from Pramanik’s family is available to file an FIR. Pramanik is in judicial custody and her parents are in Purulia,very scared to come here,” Roy told The Indian Express.

Bidhannagar police commissioner Rajib Kumar,on his part,clarified he had “no information” about such MMS and would only investigate if there was an official complaint.

Tested thrice over

The Asian Games gold-winning athlete has already undergone the gender verification test thrice — initially at the private nursing home,then the Barasat Sub-Divisional Hospital and on Monday at the SSKM hospital. The court rejected her bail plea because earlier tests were deemed inconclusive.

“I have never been subjected to such humiliation and harassment in my life,” a dejected Pramanik said after submitting her sample and the results are expected by July 10.

Support for Pramanik

Meanwhile,support for Pramanik is growing as several sportspersons are likely to stage a demonstration in front of the Barasat Court when the next hearing is scheduled. “Pinki is a woman till proven otherwise,but male police officers have been escorting her and at times dragging her out from the van. This is absolutely insane,” swimmer Bula Chowdhury said. Middle distance runner Jyotirmoyee Sikdar agreed. “It’s a shame that even after so many days,the test result is inconclusive. Pramanik should not be blamed for the lack of infrastructure. So why is she still being remanded to judicial custody?” she asked.

SSKM superintendent Tamal Kanti Ghosh rubbished allegations that Pramanik was being subjected to harassment by hospital authorities. “We are only doing what the court has asked us to do,” he said.