Carrying workers: Puthukkad police take truck into custody

Thrissur: A truck packed with construction workers including 15 children on its way from a village in Salem to Angamali was taken into custody by Puthukkad police on Sunday. There were 65 persons on the truck along with utensils, personal belongings and foodgrains. This is the second such vehicle seized and fined for violation of the permit to carry goods and cattle for transporting people in a week in Puthukkad.

The labourers were from Kallakurishi. Police released the vehicle after paying a fine of Rs 5,000. They said as per the law, the police could only impose such a fine. The labourers had told the police that they preferred being transported on trucks as they could save money. They needed to pay only one-fourth of the fare meant on bus or train. Meanwhile, local people alleged that top contractors in the state were behind bringing workers like cattle without following safety norms. They also alleged police inaction.