Cops act tough on overcharging autos

KOCHI: With growing complaints about autorickshaw drivers charging excess amount from commuters, the police have launched a hunt against them. The shadow police on Sunday took many such autorickshaw drivers into custody for charging excess amounts, charging not according to the meter reading, plying without meter and behaving rudely to the commuters. The shadow police, on the directives of City Police Assistant Commissioner M N Ramesh, conducted a thorough checking and found that many autorickshaw drivers were ignoring meter readings. The shadow police in mufti caught such people red-handed by acting as travellers. The shadow police conducted checking at railway stations, bus stands, Kacheripady and Kaloor.There were complaints that autorickshaw drivers are charging huge amounts from Sabrimala pilgrims even for short-distance journeys.