TV
A Tata Power bill collection team was brutally assaulted by a consumer accused of electricity theft in Mukundadaspur village under Balipatna police limits in Khordha district, police sources said on Tuesday.
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The team had visited to collect pending electricity bills when a confrontation turned violent after the consumer refused to pay the arrear amount and allegedly resisted bill collection.
According to sources, under the active supervision of DC chief and retired army officer Padma Charan Pradhan, a Tata Power team had gone to Mukundadaspur to recover outstanding electricity dues.
Upon reaching the village, local ward member Mohammad Shamsuddin alias Badshah was found allegedly stealing electricity using hooks and had not paid his bills.
When the supervisor Rajesh Sahu requested bill payment and warned of supply disconnection, Badshah became aggressive, verbally abused the team, and attacked them with a bamboo pole, causing severe injuries.
An FIR has been lodged at Balipatna Police Station. Police are probing and have detained the man including several others involved in the crime, promising immediate arrest of the main accused. Police are questioning the accused persons.
“Some of the consumers from Mukundadaspur village have not paid their electricity dues since March this year. Hence, we had gone there to collect the outstanding amounts. We saw on the spot that one of them had been drawing power by using a hook. When we questioned his illegal act, he got aggrieved and attacked,” supervisor Sahu said.
“The accused man also used abusive language against us,” Sahu added.
