Engineers halt power theft raids, demand arrests over assault

The HSEB Diploma Engineers’ Association has declared that no Junior Engineer (JE) working with Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) will conduct raids to check power theft in Mahendragarh district until those who attacked power officials on duty in Toloua ki Dhani two days ago are arrested.

The announcement follows the district police’s failure to apprehend any suspects involved in the December 16 attack, which left some officials injured during a power theft raid.

“We will not conduct raids to check electricity theft in the district until the accused are put behind bars. Furthermore, no JE will conduct raids without police protection in the future. The safety of power officials is our priority,” Satpal, district president of the association, told The Tribune on Wednesday.

Satpal emphasised that the decision was necessary due to the lack of arrests. “We have informed higher authorities of the DHBVN about our decision through a formal representation,” he added.

According to the FIR, power officials, including JEs Vijay Kumar and Anand, visited Toloua ki Dhani near Mori village on December 16 to investigate power theft. During the raid, villagers attacked the officials with iron rods and sticks while they were recording the theft. Anand called the police emergency helpline, but the team left the site before police arrived due to the severity of the situation.

The attackers also damaged a government vehicle and snatched a cellphone from one of the officials. The injured were treated at Civil Hospital Kanina. Following a complaint by an SDO of the DHBVN, the police booked six persons — Braham Prakash, Harish Kumar, Paramvir, Sunil, Naresh and Lalaram.

Inspector Mukesh Kumar, SHO of Kanina Sadar Police Station, said investigations are ongoing but no arrests have been made so far.