KASARGOD: A section of drivers at KSRTC, Kasargod, is reported to have organised a special ‘homa’ (fire ritual) to exorcise the ghosts responsible for increasing number bus accidents.
The KSRTC employees and the cowrie shells astrologer said ‘homa’ was a solution for all evils. There were more than 40 employees who attended the ritual.
Sudarshana homa-regarded as the best protection from all evils-was performed along with the Ayudha puja at the KSRTC Tulunadu depot in the night of October 22, said Mohanan Padi, CITU leader, who was in-charge of the shed that night.
Astrologer Kundamkuzhi Balakrishnan said a section of KSRTC drivers approached him saying the KSRTC depot was haunted by evil spirits and ghosts. “Using cowrie shells, I confirmed the presence of 11 ghosts and recommended Sudarshana homa to exorcise them,” he said.
The KSRTC employees said they approached the astrologer because of the rising number of accidents, especially on Mangalore route.
Padi said the ritual was conducted in the presence of district transport officer G Mohanankutty. The drivers collected `20,000 for the puja. “After the homa, the employees came to me again to check the effectiveness of the ritual. Using cowrie shells, I found the depot was free of all ghosts,” he said.
However, Transport Minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan laughed it off saying, “all the ghosts we have are at work.” On a serious note, the Minister said he will ask the KSRTC MD to probe into it.
Without denying the fact, district transport officer Mohanankutty said it was leaked to the media after one month and five days because of a fight between two associations affiliated to the CITU and the INTUC.
“One CITU employee, who had switched side to INTUC, was suspended on a harassment charge raised by a woman. The suspended employee was allowed to join duty after the woman withdrew the case. That did not go down well with the CITU members, who had personal grudge against the employee. And, the leaking of the ‘puja’ news was their way of getting back at me,” said Mohanankutty.
KSRTC MD Antony Chacko, however, said the internal vigilance wing of the corporation has been asked to investigate the case.