WAYANAD: A case will be taken against a teacher for crossing the state border in the official vehicle of excise circle inspector violating lockdown, Wayanad district collector Dr Adeela Abdullah told Kerala Kaumudi Online. A teacher of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Thiruvananthapuram violating lockdown restrictions reached Thamarasseri via Muthanga checkpost and reached Karnataka.

A narcotic DySP of Thiruvananthapuram issued the pass permitting her to travel. However, this is termed as illegal. The collector has to permit if anyone wants to leave the district. It will be examined how and with whose help she left the capital city and reached Thamarasseri. She was helped to cross the border in an excise circle inspector’s official vehicle from Thamarasseri. The collector said action will be taken against the circle inspector after a probe. The collector directed Wayanad district police chief R Elangovan to conduct a probe and submit a report at the earliest.

District police chief said Kalpetta DySP George has been entrusted to conduct the probe. It is asserted that the teacher was able to leave Kerala by taking advantage of her connections with top officials and political party leaders. The teacher crossing the border with the help of the excise official has stoked a controversy. The collector's directive is to register a case under the Epidemic Diseases Act.

The collector has also ordered a departmental inquiry against Kalpetta excise circle inspector who helped the teacher cross the boundaries of Wayanad Pass and Muthanga. Action will also be taken against narcotic DySP.

There are strict checking on the borders as part of COVID-19 alert. She crossed the border violating all these. It is heard that the wife of a top official of excise helped the teacher in reaching near the vehicle. The officials in Karnataka did not stop her. It is stated that the teacher was on her way to Delhi. She travelled so much amidst the lockdown. District police chief said those found guilty no matter how high they are, action will be taken against them.