A local coordination committee of private bus operators on Thursday launched an indefinite strike in Vadakara taluk seeking the arrest of those involved in the recent series of attacks on the bus crew at various parts of the taluk.
Leaders of the coordination committee led by K.V. Ramachandran and A. Satheesh said they would not withdraw the strike unless the police nabbed all the suspects involved in the incidents.
Discussions held
Discussions between officials led by Tahsildar K. Raveendran and the representatives of bus operators’ association at Vadakara on Thursday proved futile. Officials from the Police and Motor Vehicle Departments too participated in the meeting.
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Police officials, who attended the meeting, said the coordination committee leaders were not ready to wait for at least 10 more days to investigate the cases and trace the accused. “They raised the demand to arrest all the accused immediately to call off the strike, which would not be practical without conducting a proper investigation,” they clarified.
Meantime, the coordination committee leaders alleged that the police were trying to cover up the issue and save the accused.
“At one of the previous meetings, they had assured us that those involved in the incidents will be arrested, which did not happen. We would not be able to wait anymore,” they said. Association leaders also said they would take out a march to the Vadakara taluk office on Friday to draw public attention to the issue. “If there are no moves to settle the issue, we would strengthen the stir and stop all the private bus services via Vadakara,” they added.