Human Rights Commission intervenes in ‘Mayor-Driver row’, asks Police Commissioner to file a report

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Human Rights Commission has intervened in the ‘mayor-driver controversy’ with Acting Chairperson and Judicial member K Baiju Nath ordering an investigation in connection with the incident.

The Commission ordered the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner and the KSRTC Managing Director to conduct an investigation and file a report regarding the controversy within a week. The Commission intervened in the issue following the complaint lodged by L H Yadhu, the driver of the KSRTC bus involved in the controversy. 

Yadhu  had lodged a complaint with the Cantonment Police saying that his duty was disrupted as the bus carrying passengers was stopped on the road and he was humiliated before the public. It was following the inaction from the part of the SHO of Cantonment Police Station that Yadhu approached the Human Rights Commission. In his complaint, Yadhu has asked the Commission to take action against Cantonment SHO for not registering a case based on his complaint. 

The case will be considered in the sitting, scheduled to be held at the Commission office at Thiruvananthapuram on May 9. Yadhu’s complaint is against Mayor Arya Rajendran, K M Sachindev MLA, Aravind and two identifiable persons. According to his complaint, these five persons had disrupted the service of the bus he was driving on April 27. He also had complained that they had used abusive words, and asked the passengers to get out of the bus. 

Though he had lodged a complaint with the Cantonment Police on the same day at 10.30 pm, no action has been taken so far, Yadhu said.  The real facts regarding the incidents could have been  revealed through the inspection of the visuals from the cameras installed in the bus. But no investigation in this direction has been done. Without checking the veracity of his complaint, the police registered a case against him, said Yadhu. 

Yet another demand of Yadhu is to remove Cantonment SHO from the charge of investigation of this case. He sought another agency to investigate the case.