Honeymoon gone awry

Peerumeedu:  The tourist couple who alighted from the car were left horrified when the car fled without taking them back.  The couple were left stranded.  The car driver’s number was located with the help of Highway police.  The driver was 50 kms far away and returned to take them back.

Vikram Sharma and his wife Arundati from New Delhi visited Thekkady and were on their way to Alapuzha for sightseeing. Both were staying at a private resort in Thekkady.  During their journey, Arundati felt uneasiness at Kuttikanam and asked the car driver to stop.  When the car stopped, both alighted from the car and before they could comprehend, the car sped away. Theie tourist bag, travel documents and money were inside the car.

The panicked young couple rushed to a nearby shop and reported the incident.  The Highway police was informed and they reached the spot and contacted the resort officials. The phone number of the driver was obtained and by the time the police contacted the driver, he had reached Ponnkunnam.

Police summoned the driver to return immediately and in the meantime the tourists were provided refreshments at another resort in Kuttikanam. The car returned by 1.30 pm and took the tourists back to Alapuzha.

The driver told police he had stopped the vehicle after the couple asked him to stop. When the tourist alighted from the vehicle they closed the door and the driver thinking the couple had got into the car, did not bother to turn back, as it was a honeymoon package.  Highway police SI Jain Joseph said no complaint was lodged by the tourist on the incident.