Arimpur: A man who went on a leisure trip with friends returned in a critically injured condition, prompting his family to file a police complaint demanding investigation into the incident. James (46), also known as Jaimy, a resident of Udayanagar Road in Ward 2 of Arimpur Panchayat, is currently undergoing treatment in a serious condition. He works as a conductor on a private bus operating on the Kanjani route.

The trip to Nelliyampathy was organised by a group of 9 friends to celebrate a Kerala lottery win by one of James’s colleagues. The group left in a jeep at 8 am on January 25. Around 8 pm, one of the group members called James’s wife, Rijeesha, informing her that he had fallen and was hospitalised with injuries.

James was initially on ventilator support at Thrissur Medical College and was later shifted to the intensive care unit after six days. He was discharged after three more days but was subsequently moved to the pain and palliative care unit. He remains unconscious. His family manages to remove the recurring mucus in his throat and airway using medical equipment. He is son of late Paul, an ex-serviceman, and Leela.

Two members of the 9-member group reportedly had an argument during the journey and returned midway. Those who were present at the time of the incident have given conflicting accounts; one claimed James hit his head on a rock, another said he fell onto a rocky area, while a third stated he fell onto the road from a stationary vehicle.

Due to these differing versions, the family has filed complaints with the Padagiri Police Station in Nelliyampathy and the Thrissur Rural Superintendent of Police, seeking a thorough investigation.

Police from the Padagiri station visited Arimpur on Monday and recorded statements from three persons at the Bus Workers Welfare Association office in the Kanjani area. They have also asked for the jeep used for the trip to be brought to Nelliyampathy for further examination, said James’s brother Johnson.