Kollam (Kerala): The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has registered a suo moto case in connection with an incident where a man was allegedly forced to carry his 85-year-old ailing father on foot after the police stopped the autorickshaw in which they were travelling in, citing lockdown guidelines.
The 85-year-old ailing man, a native of Kulathupuzha was admitted to the Punalur Taluk Hospital for urinary infection and was discharged on Wednesday. His son Roymon was heading to the hospital in an auto rickshaw when the police stopped him at TB Junction.
Roy then walked to the hospital and returned with the superintendent's letter. But still, the cops reportedly refused to let the auto-rickshaw proceed.
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Fearing the cops' wrath, other auto rickshaw drivers also refused service. Left with no other alternative, Roy carried his father on his shoulders. His mother Leelamma too walked along. Even private vehicles passed by but none of them offered to help. Roy said that he had earlier approached the Kulathupuzha police station for a travel pass but the cops told him that an affidavit would be sufficient.
As of Wednesday, Kerala had 387 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 211 patients who have been cured and discharged, according to the Union Ministry of Health.
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The nationwide lockdown, which was originally scheduled till April 14, has been extended to May 3 keeping in view the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country.
