CHARSADDA: Officials of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) were allegedly beaten up by power stealers during an operation on Friday.
Local sources said the villagers beat up the Pesco officials and injured four of them, including a superintendent. The Pesco officials during operation against power stealers in Rajar sub-division caught several people involved in power theft. During the operation, the area residents encircled the Pesco officials and tortured them. The people of the area also damaged the vehicle of the Pesco officials.
Four Pesco officials were injured in the incident. The injured officials include Superintendent Sohail Jan, Siddique Akbar, Hameedullah and Jan Nisar.
Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Muhammad Jamal said the accused were involved in power theft and they started torturing Pesco officials when they were caught stealing electricity. He said the Pesco officials had to leave the place to save their lives.
Police have filed a case in Rajar Police Station on the complaint of SDO Muhammad Jamal and arrested four accused. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
Power theft is very common in Charsadda and many people openly use hooks to steal electricity. Some of power stealers justify their action, arguing that they are compelled to do so due to very high power tariff. Many people also complain about corruption in Pesco in which officials let power thieves off the hook by accepting bribes. However, Pesco has recently increased operations against power stealers and hundreds of people have been booked for stealing electricity.
200kg polythene bags confiscated
The district administration of Peshawar has confiscated over 200 kilograms polythene bags during an operation in the city.
A spokesman for the district administration said the operation was carried out in Saddar area of Peshawar where plastic bags were confiscated from different shops, boutiques, stores and shopping malls.
The operation was carried out by Additional Assistant Commissioner Gulshan Ara along with officers of Environment Department on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Muhammad Ali Asghar. The spokesman said the environment officers confirmed presence of plastic bags in the shops and some shopping bags with stamps were also recovered.
Thirteen owners and managers of shops and stores were also arrested during the operation. The deputy commissioner said plastic bags are banned by the provincial government and violators of the ban will face action.
