Kerala's first transgender activist Anannyah Kumari Alex has been found dead hanging from the ceiling in her Kochi apartment. Anannyah was the first transgender radio jockey and the first to contest for the Kerala Assembly polls from her community. The 28-year-old was also a celebrity makeup artist.

“Prima facie it seemed to be a case of suicide,” the police said. Anannyah had earlier raised allegations that she was facing serious health issues following a sex-reassignment surgery. She had also told the media that she wanted justice as it was a case of medical negligence. She had complained that even after a year of the surgery being done, she was unable to work due to severe physical pain. “I’m a victim of gross medical negligence. My private part looks like a piece of meat, it has no resemblance to a vagina. I want to conduct resurgery, I want justice.” she had said in an interview to The Cue. She was also reportedly under financial pressure.

In the Assembly elections in April this year, Anannyah had filed nomination papers as a candidate for the Democratic Social Justice Party (DSJP) from the Vengara constituency in Malappuram district. Owing to death threats from the leader of her own party, she had suspended her election campaign before the day of polling.