‘Transgender’ youth ends life

Mohali, July 13

An 18-year-old student, who is said to have acted as Election Commission’s ambassador to motivate transgender voters in the Lok Sabha poll, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at Badmajra in Balongi here today.

The deceased has been identified as Gurpreet.

Sources said Gurpreet was putting up in a rented accommodation here while his parents and other family members lived at Fatehgarh Sahib.

The matter came to light when a neighbour saw him hanging in his room and informed the police.

The police said the victim was reportedly facing some financial issues, which drove him to take the extreme step. “We learnt that he was depressed due to some financial constraints,” said the police. Inspector Amritpal Singh, SHO, Balongi police station, said he was not aware of the victim’s orientation. “He is said to be a transgender but I could not comment on it. Even his family members claim that he was a boy,” said the SHO.

According to a Gurpreet’s acquaintance, he was to take admission in a government college at Panchkula today.  — TNS