3 days after PSPCL officials detained, police register case

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 21

Three days after a team of officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) was illegally detained by residents at Dharad village, the rural police have booked a villager, along with unknown persons, in the case.

Though the accused has been identified as Satnam Singh of Dharad village, no arrest has been made till now. A case under Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 353 (assault to deter a public servant from discharging his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant from discharging his duty), 295 (hurting religious sentiments) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and other relevant sections of the Indian Pedal Code has been registered against them.

Sub-Divisional officer Pankaj Jain said a powercom team, headed by junior engineer Lakhwinder Singh, had raided Dharad village where over a dozen persons were stealing power by way of kundi connection. When the team reached the village and started removing illegal connections, Satnam Singh started objecting and using abusive language against the officials. He called several people of the village to the spot and prevented the team from removing illegal power connections.

When the team entered a house, the accused sit outside the residence on a dharna and did not allow the team to move out. We had to call senior police officials and sought intervention of the village sarpanch to pacify the agitators and let the team move out. He said they held hostage the five-member team for over five hours, said Pankaj Jain. The police said a case had been registered and further investigation was under way.

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