2 taxi drivers held for leaking police patrol details to smugglers in Wayanad
The leak reportedly helped offenders evade checks, resulting in repeated enforcement failures across the district.
The leak reportedly helped offenders evade checks, resulting in repeated enforcement failures across the district.
The leak reportedly helped offenders evade checks, resulting in repeated enforcement failures across the district.
Wayanad: Police have arrested two taxi drivers, who were also WhatsApp group administrators, for allegedly sharing confidential information on law-enforcement vehicle movements with those engaged in illegal activities.
The Pulppalli police arrested brothers Bibin Baby (42) and Biju Baby, residents of Perikkalloor near Pulppalli, who managed the WhatsApp group "Taxi Drivers' Wayanad". According to officials, the duo shared details on patrol and enforcement vehicle movements, including Police and Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) units, with contacts engaged in smuggling, illegal liquor trade, and sand mining.
The leak reportedly helped offenders evade checks, resulting in repeated enforcement failures across the district. Suspicion grew after raids conducted by Police, Excise, and MVD teams over recent weeks consistently yielded little success. A detailed probe by the Cyber Cell and the intelligence wing revealed systematic information leaks through the group.
Wayanad District Police Chief Taposh Basumatari confirmed that the illegal communication occurred in October. “We are tracing earlier messages and verifying the role of other participants. Strict action will follow against all those involved,” he said.
Pulppalli Inspector Mahesh C V told Onmanorama that officers initially struggled to identify the source of the alerts, as even covert patrols and camouflaged operations were anticipated by the offenders. “The investigation continues, and anyone linked to this network will be booked,” he added.