CHENNAI : Autorickshaw drivers affiliated to the Centre for Indian Trade Union and the All India Trade Union Congress have threatened to stage an agitation here on Wednesday to protest against the city police for defaming them in a documentary film to be screened shortly.

The police have produced a film Kavalar Ungal Sevagar to be dedicated to the public at the inaugural function of the 150th year celebrations of the Chennai city police on January 4 by the Chief Minister at the Rajarathinam Stadium.

Following reports, which appeared in a section of media, that autorickshaw drivers have been depicted in bad light, they raised objections and threatened an agitation.

Police denial

However, a police press release issued here on Tuesday said the film had been produced in the larger public interest with an aim of enlightening masses on the yeomen services of the police.

A scene in the film showed how anti-socials used autorickshaws and other modes of transport for kidnap and committed illegal acts such as waylaying and rape. In no part of the short film, the profession of autorickshaw drivers had been ill-treated, as claimed by a few unions, the release said.

The release also assured the autorickshaw drivers that they had not been shown as anti-socials and in the contrary, their roles in the real life had been commended in the film.

Hence, the police appealed to the unions to drop the stir plan, as the reports were ``without any basis''.

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