Thiruvananthapuram: Corp’s inspection team lands in a soup

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A routine inspection by corporation health wing to prevent unauthorised distribution of drinking water nearly dragged the team to a case of abduction and alleged manhandling on Tuesday. A squad constituted to monitor illegal use of transport water passes had seized a tanker without any valid pass, coming from Aruvikkara. The driver said that he was transporting it to panchayat areas and hence no digital pass was required. The corporation team seized the vehicle and headed towards corporation office for further proceedings.
The driver, who was accompanied by his son, meanwhile took the vehicle to RKV Road near Museum police station. A health official who was with the driver asked him to take the vehicle to the corporation office. Instead, the driver just locked the vehicle and walked away. The corporation officials were left with the son of the driver. They then arranged a mechanic to take the vehicle to corporation office. While the officials were preparing a report against the driver, his son received a call saying that his father was in Peroorkada hospital and he had filed a complaint against corporation officials for abducting his son and for manhandling the driver.
The corporation officials have now filed a counter complaint against the driver for obstructing a public official from conducting duty and for violating rules regarding operation of water tankers in the city. The officials also took the son to the Peroorkada hospital and left him with his father.