Assam: Power Department Engineer Among Two Injured In Mob Attack During Drive Against Electricity Pilferage

APDCL staffers on Friday held a massive protest in Assam's Dhubri demanding immediate arrest of the prime accused and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

The APDCL team received information that some villagers had been running pump sets to irrigate their fields after pilfering electricity from power poles.

Source : Getty Images

New Delhi: A mob attacked a team of the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) at Gauripur, leaving two persons, including a sub-divisional engineer critically injured. The incident took place in the Dhubri district of Assam on Thursday evening. The injured engineer was identified as Manzoorul Haque.

Haque led the APDCL team to Dumrdah village in Dhubri district on receiving information that some villagers had been running pump sets to irrigate their fields after pilfering electricity from power poles.

During the operation, the team from the electricity department seized as many as five pump sets that were being run on stolen electricity to irrigate the fields.

As the operation was underway, some locals allegedly involved in the illegal act mounted a sudden attack on the APDCL team.

The attack left at least two persons, including SDE Manzoorul Haque, grievously injured.

On receiving word of the incident, a team from the local police station rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

The injured officials of the power utility were rushed to a nearby hospital by the police.

The sub-divisional engineer was referred to the Dhubri Medical College and Hospital for better treatment.   

However, considering the nature and severity of his injuries, the doctors attending on Haque eventually referred him to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). He is currently under treatment at the GMCH and his condition is stated to be critical.

“We went to disconnect power lines after receiving reports that electricity had been pilfered by some villagers to run water pumps. However, while our operation was in progress, we came under attack by those involved in the illegal act. They assaulted us with sticks and wooden planks. I fell unconscious and don’t know what the attackers did to SDE sir,” Mofizul Haque, the other injured APDCL employee said.

Dhubri Police said three people were arrested in connection with the incident and an investigation is underway.

However, the main accused is still at large and a manhunt has been launched to nab him at the earliest, police informed further.

Meanwhile, APDCL staffers on Friday held a massive protest in Dhubri demanding immediate arrest of the prime accused and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

The protestors also threatened to cease work until their demands are met.