Lalit Salve welcomed back into force post operation

Mumbai: Lalit Salve, the 29-year-old Beed police constable, who underwent a gender-reassignment procedure after getting approval from the government, on Tuesday resumed service as a male constable at the Majalgaon police station.

Mr Salve, formerly Lalita, was born with the intersex phenotype. He acquired special permission from the home department to retain his service as a male constable. He thanked his department for the ‘support’ in getting his new identity.

Talking to The Asian Age, Mr Salve said, “I am so happy today to get my identity without losing my government job. In fact, now I am more confident about serving as a male constable. The journey from a woman to a man was not easy. But my department supported me a lot.”

Clad in a khakhi trousers and a half-shirt and a matching dark-blue beret, Mr Salve rejoined the police force on Tuesday.

Beed’s superintendent of police G. Sreedhar said, “We have welcomed Salve. He has joined duty as a male constable. We wish him good luck for his future endeavours.”

He also added, “Salve’s direct correspondence with director general of police Satish Mathur to look into his case led to the government approval for his surgery.”

The first phase of the sex-reassignment surgery has been completed and the second round of surgeries will be performed after six months.