Background checks delay Kochi police plan to issue IDs to private bus staff

The Kochi City police’s plan to issue identity cards to private bus employees after thorough background verification is likely to take more time. The police have completed verification of only around 380 of the nearly 4,000 bus workers, even as the initial deadline to complete the process by September-end has passed. The police have received 1,383 applications for verification as of Saturday since the plan was launched earlier last month. The police launched the background verification drive in response to a series of incidents of criminal behaviour involving private bus employees of late.

The special branch of the police is conducting the verification based on the applications received by the traffic wing. An officer involved in the process said a large number of bus employees working in the city are from other districts, making it a time-consuming affair.