Family of missing lorry driver unhappy with rescue operations, alleges police mistreatment

Kozhikode: The family of Arjun, a truck driver who went missing under the landslide rubble in Karnataka’s Shirur village in Uttara Kannada district, has expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing rescue operation. 

Arjun's mother, Sheela, voiced her loss of faith in the rescue efforts undertaken by authorities in Karnataka. Sheela and Arjun's sister, Anju, urged authorities not to halt the rescue operation until he was found. 

"We trusted the officials for two days, but with no progress, we reached out to MPs and government agencies. Despite providing eyewitness accounts, our concerns were disregarded. When we informed the Ankola police, they mentioned that a complaint had already been lodged by the vehicle owner. It was only after insisting that they searched the rest area that they discovered vehicles and bodies. This information has not been disclosed to the public. The world needs to know the true extent of the situation, including how many vehicles were recovered before reaching my son's," said his mother.

"We have lost faith in the local authorities. Either the army should intervene or allow willing volunteers from Kerala to assist. I fear my son's safety. The SP mistreated one of the vehicle owners," Sheela claimed.

Meanwhile, the family has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, and Kerala Chief Minister, requesting the deployment of the army for the rescue operation.