Malappuram: The heroism of the Kerala Police by seizing the bus after private bus employees went on a lightning strike in the district to protest against the POCSO case against the conductor.
Last day, a case was registered at the Malappuram women’s police station against the conductor of the bus plying the Parapanangadi route on the complaint of a schoolgirl. The POCSO case was taken.
With this, a group of employees announced a strike in the form of a WhatsApp message yesterday morning. The bus strike without warning affected the students who had gone for the Christmas exams, the government employees who had gone to work in various institutions.
The protesters were about to block some buses that were about to operate in some places including Mancheri. With this, the police intervened in the matter. The police, led by Tirur Inspector M.J. Jijo, initially requested the employees, but they were not ready to perform the service.
With this, a bus on the Thirurmanchery route was informed that it was lying at a petrol pump in Thalakkadathur, two and a half kilometers away. As the key was also in the bus itself, the bus was seized and brought to the police stand. The police also organized another bus lying at the stand.
Then the inspector’s driver K. Jinesh and T.V. Bhagyaraj of the traffic station drove the buses with the passengers to Kottaikal. The service was also done.
He took the son of the owner of the bus from Talakadthur and brought it to Kottaikkal. The police asked him to collect the ticket. In the second bus, the staff collected the tickets themselves.
Following the strike, Malappuram KSRTC had run 5 additional services. Collector VR Vinod intervened in the matter and discussed with the bus owners.
The problem eased when the owners, who informed that the strike was without their permission, assured to resume the service by noon. In the evening, more buses plyed.
