Controversy is brewing after Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 for all the wrong reasons on the car used by Major General Alok Beri, a senior military official in the Army. Maj Gen Alok Beri had recently hired a taxi and traveled to Munnar on an official trip when his vehicle was fined. The officer is currently the Additional Director General (ADG) of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Kerala & Lakshadweep Directorate, and took charge in March last year.
Shanavaz V I, an enforcement Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) in Idukki, has taken this bizarre action. The Kerala MVD official claimed penalties for faulty registration marks. Interestingly, the fine was paid online on 24.3.2023, and the receipt also reveals the journey date.
Kerala MVD fined the Maj Gen’s car, which had an army flag and two stars attached to it. Maj Gen Alok Beri also holds the constitutional title of Flag Officer of our Army. A Kerala government employee has fined this officer’s vehicle. India Today reported that Military circles had taken the matter seriously.
The Army plans to bring the issue to the attention of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Shanavaz may be asked to explain how he penalized a car with an official emblem that carried our Army officer. When the complaint reaches the MHA, it is expected that the Center will ask the Kerala government for action against the erring MVD officer.
It is pointed out that Kerala is taking such steps unheard of in other parts of Bharat. The Centre must consider such incidents as anarchy and demand suitable measures from the Marxist regime.
Taxi vehicles are used to ferry Army officers all over Bharat. Indeed, the taxi vehicle’s number plates were not as per specifications, but that does not mean Shanavas can disrespect our military authorities.
Official titles attached to Army vehicles must attract respect from Abrahamic officers of Kerala. Given the current political appeasement scenario in Kerala, that seems highly improbable. It is feared that until that happens, such atrocities will continue.
Unfortunately, the Kerala MVD refused to reverse its controversial decision even after they were notified of the breach. Therefore, it is reported that the Army is also preparing for further action.
Lawless Kerala
Kerala has allegedly become a banana republic run by corrupt politicians, like-minded bureaucrats, and officers. On Monday, following massive public pressure, Kerala police suspended Sub Inspector (SI) Jimmy Jose for the death of a Manoharan (53), a Hindu man brought to Tripunithura Hill Palace police station in Ernakulam, alleging reckless drunk driving. Shocking information about a brutal custodial murder has come out in the case.
After it became clear that Manoharan was not drunk, Kerala police took him to the station and fined him. Marunadan Malayalee reported that Manoharan was physically assaulted and forced to pay a fine of one thousand rupees. Kerala police booked him for dangerous driving when they failed to prove that Manoharan was drunk.
Last week, The New Indian Express reported a recent decision by the MVD to collect an additional Rs 1,000 crore. The finance department revised the budget estimate target from Rs 4,138.59 crore to Rs 5,300.71 crore for the MVD in 2022-23. The MVD fixed targets for each regional transport officer to realize the additional sum through a circular on February 17. With less than a week to achieve their targets, officers on the ground act bizarrely toward citizens and have now turned to state-sponsored extortion.
One cannot wholly blame such officers alone. In August 2022, the Kerala Transport Minister shamelessly informed the Kerala High Court that it has no obligation to pay the salaries of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employees. The state claimed there is no law or agreement that the government should provide financial aid to pay the salaries or allowances of KSRTC employees.
This came from the same Marxists who oppose privatization. Such a stand also meant that govt employees were free to fleece and plunder Keralites. The communist regime is yet to settle the KSRTC salary issues. Last month, Kerala High Court asked the communist regime to close down KSRTC if it cannot pay employees wages. Naturally, MVD officers, too, await the same fate.
Abrahamic Federalism?
Last November, Kerala police arrested Anas Muhammad (40), a Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), for misbehaving with a lady bank officer who appeared for a driving license test.
Last week, Kerala police arrested Pratheesh Kumar, a serving jawan, after a Muslim student claimed he plied her with alcohol and allegedly molested her. A team led by Railway Police Ernakulam DYSP Manoj Kabeer, Ernakulam Circle Inspector Crispin Sam, and Alappuzha Sub Inspector H S Shanif arrested Pratheesh. Later, the allegations were false, and Kerala police plans to approach the court.
In January, Monish Mohanan, a soldier stationed on the Kashmir border, was brutally beaten at the Kayamkulam police station. The brutality was led by Kayamkulam Station House Officer (SHO) Circle-Inspector (CI) Muhammed Shafi, lady officer Shaheena, and police officers Shahjahan, Harris, and Sub-Inspector (SI) Muralidharan.
In October, five Kerala police officers were suspended for assaulting a serving Army soldier named Vishnu (30) and his brother Vignesh (25) in August. SI Anish Mohd, allegedly a Popular Front of India (PFI) undercover operative, led the brutal custody torture.
On Deepawali day, an Islamist mob led by a local policeman went on a rampage near Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district. Attackers armed with weapons led by one Rafeeq broke into the homes of members of the Tamil community. The criminals beat up family members, including women and children. Rafeeq is a police official attached to the armed reserve police.
In December, the Pathanamthitta District Police chief suspended Sajeef Khan of Aranmula Police Station. Khan misbehaved with the lady (a temporary employee) while she was working inside the station canteen. She used to housekeep and prepare tea for the officers on duty.
A real shocker came in September 2022 when the central agencies clamped down on PFI terrorists. National Investigation Agency (NIA) allegedly found nearly 1000 PFI infiltrators in the Kerala Police.
The list of state-sponsored atrocities goes on and on. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan handles the home department. Only one officer has been dismissed to date for his links with terrorists. Allegedly, such inaction encourages lawlessness among deviant public servants.
A few years ago, similar anarchy was unheard of in Kerala but is common now. We have read about similar incidents in Kashmir and know the outcome. Incidentally, all the victims are Hindus.
The RTO has rightly penalised the taxi for not displaying the number plate. The general officer should be vigilant enough to observe the irregularity.
All vehicles plying on the road need to display the number plate, including military vehicles which have their own code of numbers. CHT (Civil Hired Transport), if employed, need to display the number plate. Star plate, if authorised, should be placed above the number plate. Only the vehicle of President of India doesn’t have a number plate; instead it displays Ashoka emblem. This too, is only for RD Parade function, else it too carries its number plate.
It is high time that senior officers of army realise that it is ‘Indian Army’ and not ‘Army of India’. Country comes first. No one, no belief, no thought can be greater than the country. Period.
Army officers are not above the law. In our state of Gujarat also we will fine then if they break traffic laws. Respect the police instead of publishing such articles.
It was my understanding that the cabs are hired on annual basis by the services as per law. The cab allotted to senior rank officials is no less than a government owned services vehicle during the duration of hire, especially when the officer is travelling in the vehicle. Kerala MVD is keen on fines and penalties rather than road safety or anything else and this is a truth known to any driver in India who ever driven thru this state
Offcourse
The MVI of Idukki has rightly fined the Taxi Driver for not displaying the Number Plates of the taxi. The fine has not been imposed on the General Officer, and as such, there is no need to drag the Indian Army into unnecessary controversy. The staff officer(s) of the General Officer should have been more vigilant and caught the violation of the MV Act before the journey.