Tourist’s allegation: BJP, BMS take out protest march in support of Munnar taxi drivers

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest march to the Munnar police station on Wednesday in support of three taxi drivers at the hill station against whom action was taken by the police and the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) after a video of a woman tourist alleging ill-treatment by them went viral. A group of local taxi drivers had allegedly blocked her vehicle, claiming that online taxis are banned in Munnar.

The protesters alleged that the police had registered a fake case against the drivers. “The taxi drivers said they were merely expressing their concern about losing their livelihood if online taxis are allowed to ply,” said BJP leader Balamurukan. “The police should withdraw the case against the drivers and the MVD should not cancel their licence and permit. In addition, the government should withdraw the suspension against two police officials,” he added.

For six months

The MVD, meanwhile, suspended the licences of the three drivers on Wednesday. Adimaly Joint Regional Transport Officer (RTO) James CJ said the licences were suspended for six months. “The permit cancellation process will be initiated based on the police report,” said the official.

In a three-minute video, Janvi, an assistant professor from Mumbai who visited a few destinations in the State, recently alleged that local taxi drivers and the police had harassed her during her visit to Munnar on October 30.

After the video went viral on social media, the Munnar police registered a suo motu case and arrested three taxi drivers. Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar ordered the MVD to suspend the taxi drivers’ licences and permits. Idukki District Police Chief K.M. Sabu Mathew suspended two police personnel attached to the Munnar police station who failed to provide timely assistance to the tourist.