KANNUR: Kannur’s beloved ‘Madhavettan’ (as Home Guard Madhavan is fondly called), would be back to work from today (Tuesday), but may not be at Mele Chovva, considered to be one of the narrowest and busiest junctions on the state highway, where he got a fan following because of his deft handling of traffic. Madhavan, 59, ex-Army, was introduced to this job eight years ago and till one and a half months ago, he enjoyed manning busy traffic braving sun and rain. However, on September 10, when the city was busy because of the visit of the chief minister, some people who came in a car, disobeyed him and when he stopped them, they verbally abused him, he said.
“I did not give any complaint to the authorities regarding that incident, but those people informed the CI that I misbehaved with them. Apparently as a punishment, I was moved to Talap, instead of doing my job at Mele Chovva. I don’t have much work to do here, as this is a comparatively low-traffic area,” Mr Madhavan, hailing from Muyyam, Taliparamba, told this newspaper. A group of Kannur lovers, branding themselves under a WhatsApp group ‘Support Madhavettan’, visited his house on Sunday and expressed their support. “We are planning a people’s welcome to Madhavettan, as soon he joins back duty at Mele Chovva,” said Jofin James, one of the group members.
However, police dismissed allegations that some people belonging to the family of a top cop insulted Madhavan. “It was wrongly reported. Even Madhavan does not have any complaint regarding the police. Those passengers were not related to any police official, but a local politician, and the matter was settled without further complaints. Madhavan works very hard and he is joining back. He would be in service when there is a vacancy but we cannot confirm whether it would be Mele Chovva,” said special branch DySP Sajesh Vazhalappil.
