Long drive for Malakkappara police as they travel 120 km for refuelling

Thrissur: Police operations at Malakkappara, situated deep within the forests of Thrissur, are facing a critical fuel shortage. Vehicles stationed there, including two jeeps and a bike, must embark on a 120 km journey simply to refuel. The crisis stems from a recent government directive mandating computerised billing at authorised pumps for fuel payments.

Vehicles at Malakkappara station used to obtain fuel from a nearby Tata Estate pump, which did not issue computerised bills. Consequently, funds are unavailable for fuel procurement locally. As a result, police are compelled to travel to Athirapilly, a 120 km journey, for refuelling. The average mileage of the jeeps are 6 km and 9 km per litre, which increases the challenge. The situation has escalated further with petroleum companies halting fuel supply in bottles and cans.

Police headquarters officials justify the mandatory computerised billing order as a measure to prevent potential discrepancies associated with handwritten fuel bills.

The Malakkappara police station, functioning since 1982, is the farthest from Thrissur district headquarters. The station established in Sholayar with Kannankuzhi and Malakkappara as limits was later shifted here. Now, the station limit is from the eastern side of Puliyilappara church to the Tamil Nadu border.