35 CRPF Colony residents caught stealing power

Ludhiana, August 18

In an early morning raid conducted by five teams of the enforcement wing of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) at CRPF Colony in Phase I, Dugri Urban Estate, here yesterday led to detection of 35 cases of power theft through kundi connections.

Apprehending resistance by the residents and rioting, as had happened during a couple of earlier occasions, the raiding teams, led by Additional Superintending Engineer Dharam Pal, were accompanied by 100-strong police contingent. The checking of electricity connections and meters continued for more than three hours.

Deputy Chief Engineer/Enforcement of PSPCL Rajit Sharma said in all 90 connections were checked at the colony, inhabited mostly by 1984 riot-affected families, and 35 cases of theft were detected. He said in a few cases, meters were installed at the flats but electricity was being drawn through kundi connections.

There was a brief moment of minor disturbance during the checking of electricity connections when some local politicians, including husband of the area councillor, arrived at the spot and sought some time for those residents who had not obtained electricity connections for various reasons.

The enforcement wing has assessed a tentative penalty of about Rs 30 lakh for the power theft and demand notices were being issued to the defaulters. Sharma said in case of non-payment of penalty for power theft, criminal cases would be lodged against the culprits. —OC