Kochi: The Kerala Police along with officials of the Indian Registrar of Shipping (IRS) on Friday carried out an underwater telescopic inspection on the country’s first solar ferry boat to facilitate forensic evidence as part of probe into alleged sabotage attempt against it over two weeks ago. “During the inspection that lasted for three hours from 10 am, we minutely checked all devices connected with ‘rudder installation’, that was found missing on February one night. Nuts and bolts too were scrutinized to check whether there was any sabotage attempt,” said M Sahil, Vaikom Sub Inspector. A report will be prepared and submitted to the higher officials for further action.
“This will be besides the IRS report. Officials of the Ports Department too and the Forensic wing of the Kerala Police too were there during the exercise,” the officer said. Though the Kerala Police initially asked the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) to conduct dry-dock inspection, the latter was against it as the same would result in disruption of daily services in the 2.5 km long Vaikom-Tavanakadavu section for nearly a month. Unidentified miscreants “removed” rudder installation of the solar boat, deployed in the 2.5 km Vaikom-Tavanakkadavu, on February one, putting in danger lives of hundreds of daily commuters. The rudder device is used to change direction and control the boat.
