Thane, March 3: In a disturbing incident highlighting the menace of power theft, Thane police have arrested three individuals accused of attacking officials from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) during an inspection in Kunde village, Bhiwandi taluka.
The incident unfolded on Friday when a team of MSEDCL officials visited Kunde village for a routine inspection. According to Inspector Sandeepan Sonawane of Ganesh Police Station, the officials uncovered significant power theft, noticing that nearly half-a-dozen homes lacked electricity meters.
Following standard procedures, the inspection team immediately disconnected the illegal power connections and removed unauthorized wires. This enforcement sparked outrage among certain villagers, who confronted and verbally abused the MSEDCL staff before physically assaulting them.
Attempting to defuse the situation, the MSEDCL officials sought assistance from the local village panchayat. However, the assailants, accompanied by other villagers, pursued the officials to the panchayat office, where they continued their aggressive behavior. The accused allegedly subjected the officials to further physical assault, threats, and verbal abuse, resulting in injuries to some team members.
Acting swiftly upon a formal complaint lodged by the MSEDCL team on Saturday, the Ganesh Police Station registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and arrested three suspects involved in the violence.
Police authorities have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend another accused who remains at large.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by electricity distribution teams in curbing power theft across Maharashtra.
The incident unfolded on Friday when a team of MSEDCL officials visited Kunde village for a routine inspection. According to Inspector Sandeepan Sonawane of Ganesh Police Station, the officials uncovered significant power theft, noticing that nearly half-a-dozen homes lacked electricity meters.
Following standard procedures, the inspection team immediately disconnected the illegal power connections and removed unauthorized wires. This enforcement sparked outrage among certain villagers, who confronted and verbally abused the MSEDCL staff before physically assaulting them.
Attempting to defuse the situation, the MSEDCL officials sought assistance from the local village panchayat. However, the assailants, accompanied by other villagers, pursued the officials to the panchayat office, where they continued their aggressive behavior. The accused allegedly subjected the officials to further physical assault, threats, and verbal abuse, resulting in injuries to some team members.
Acting swiftly upon a formal complaint lodged by the MSEDCL team on Saturday, the Ganesh Police Station registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and arrested three suspects involved in the violence.
Police authorities have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend another accused who remains at large.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by electricity distribution teams in curbing power theft across Maharashtra.
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