A ‘fine’ garland to state his plight

Lorry driver wears garland of fine receipts to highlight poor living conditions

A mini-lorry driver from Pulpatta, near Manjeri, staged a unique protest in Manjeri town on Friday evening inviting the government’s attention to the living condition of the people, particularly the drivers of vehicles carrying building materials. A large garland made of pink receipts for the fines slapped by the authorities hung from his neck as 38-year-old P.V. Mohammed Riyas criss-crossed Manjeri town. At first people took him for a crack. But the placard he held confirmed his sanity. Mr. Riyas chose to stage a loner’s protest after he was persistently harassed by the authorities while carrying laterite stones to construction sites. “We too want to live. I started transporting laterite blocks after the State government announced that pickups carrying building materials, specifically laterite blocks, should not be prevented by the police. But, I was charged by different officers, including those of the Department of Mining and Geology, while transporting laterite blocks,” he said.