Residents block Minister over alleged rude behaviour by police officer

Tension prevailed in front of the Aluva railway station on Wednesday night when Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty was blocked for a while by local residents who were agitated over the alleged unruly behaviour by a police officer among the Minister’s pilot team that left a middle-aged man injured.

The officer allegedly shoved the man who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol. The melee subsided after the man was moved to the hospital in the pilot vehicle on the Minister’s instructions.

A vehicle from the Vadakkekara police station was deployed as pilot for Mr. Krishnankutty, who reached the Aluva railway station by around 9.30 p.m. Seeing the man approaching, the officer allegedly shoved him away once, and when he re-emerged, the act was repeated. Following this, the man fell in front and reportedly suffered a cut.

Autorickshaw operators in the area asked the officer to take the injured man to the hospital, a request that was reportedly turned down. As the Minister emerged at this point, residents and autorickshaw operators blocked his way and informed him of the incident. The Minister then directed that the injured man be shifted to hospital.