— Photo: M. VEDHAN
SAFETY FIRST: Children participating in the inter-school competition organised in Chennai on Saturday.
CHENNAI: The auditorium of Union Christian Matriculation School in Chetpet reverberated with applause as autorickshaw driver E. Mahendran walked up to the stage to be honoured.
Mr. Mahendran, who lives in Muthamizh Nagar in Kodungaiyur, has been driving an autorickshaw for three years. In September, a passenger asked him to take him from General Patters Road to Ripon Building and back to GP Road. When the passenger got off he forgot his bag. Police said the bag contained a cheque for Rs. 58 lakh, a laptop, cash, a mobile phone and other documents.
“I discovered it only later. By then I had two or three more savaris (trips for passengers). I did not know where to search for the man, so I handed over the bag at the Police Commissioner’s office. There was Rs. 20,000 in cash, some documents, and a cell phone,” said Mr. Mahendran, who was honoured for his honesty with a shield, medal and cheque.
Harish L. Metha, chief traffic warden, presented him with a cheque for Rs. 2,000.
At the function organised by the Tamil Nadu Police Traffic Wardens Organisation, Greater Chennai, eight persons, including an MTC bus driver with the best safety record, police personnel and RSP cadets, were given the ‘Sree Kumara Menon’ Awards . Earlier in the day, children participated in an inter-school painting competition.
Police Commissioner Nanchil G. Kumaran gave away the prizes.
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
