Tata Power urges consumers to support lawful inspections, condemns attack on employees in Bangriposi

A few days after six officials of TPNODL were manhandled and detained by villagers at Gulamundhakata village under Bangriposi police limits in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, Tata Power on Sunday condemned the attack on its employees and urged consumers to support lawful inspections.

“TPNODL remains committed to conducting all inspections professionally, respectfully, and in accordance with established safety protocols. We urge the community to support lawful inspection practices that are vital to maintaining a safe and reliable power supply for all,” the company said in a press release.

Refuting the allegations of the employees illegally entering a consumer's house, the company explained that the employees had entered Santosh Kumar Giri’s house with consent from his son.

“Led by an engineer, the team detected illegal meter bypassing at the residence of Santosh Kumar Giri. With consent from the consumer’s son, our female security officer entered the premises to verify the load,” their letter read.

It further added, “During the inspection, our female staff saw the consumer’s daughter-in-law rushing into the kitchen and followed her suspecting she might be hiding some illegal equipment. The woman however exited through a side door and walked towards the paddy field despite being asked why she was leaving suspiciously.”

She later led a mob of approximately 200 people who assaulted the employees, it added.

Worth mentioning, the woman had earlier accused the officials of entering her home when she was alone following which the villagers detained the employees. However, they were later released after the intervention of Bangriposi IIC Rojalin Behera and BDO Manas Ranjan Patra.