Minister's pilot vehicle hits ambulance: Investigation launched against police officers

Kollam: Thiruvananthapuram range IG, R Nishanthini, has ordered an investigation against three policemen in the incident where Minister V Sivankutty’s pilot vehicle collided with an ambulance, injuring five people including the patient. The investigation is against Kottarakara traffic unit SI J.P Arunkumar, Vinayan and Sooranad police station CPO Bijulal. 

Rural District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB) DySP has been instructed to complete the investigation within three months and submit the charge sheet within 14 days. The incident pertaining to the case occurred on July 12 at 1:30 PM. When the minister’s pilot vehicle collided with the ambulance, the ambulance driver Nithin,  Ashwakumar, Devika and the CPO, who was on traffic duty, were injured. 

The action came after it was found that there was dereliction from the police’s part in the incident. Even though Bijulal who was driving the pilot vehicle had the license to drive a police vehicle, he did not have the required permission to drive a VIP vehicle nor take up pilot duty. Thus, Bijulal was assigned to the job in violation of the instructions. The accident occurred because the vehicle was driven on the right side of the road while approaching the Kottarakara Pulamon junction. 

The information about the minister’s journey was informed to the control room in time, but it was not communicated to the police officer on duty at the Pulamon junction. Although the control room tried to contact the traffic mobile to update the minister’s location, the call was not received. Investigation also revealed that lapses in duty by Traffic Enforcement SI J.P Arunkumar also influenced the accident.