Three attack officials of PSPCL, police; 2 nabbed

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 21

A team of officials of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) was attacked in Mudh village where it had gone to collect payment from defaulters yesterday. The team was headed by PSPCL Sub-Divisional Officer Rakesh Kumar.

The accused have been identified as Gaminiel Masih, Nathanel Masih and Immanual Masih. The PSPCL team said it had to run for its lives as the accused were armed with sharp-edged weapons. They allegedly snatched around 200-metre electricity wire from them.

Complainant Rakesh Kumar said the three were involved in power theft by installing ‘kundi’ connection. “When we removed such a connection, they hurled bricks at us and also attacked with sharp weapons,” he stated. Later, SDO Rakesh Kumar informed Lopoke SHO over phone and sought police help. By the time a four-member police team, headed by ASI Mukhtar Singh, reached the spot, the accused had fled.

The police got to know that they were hiding at a barber’s shop in Chuchakwal village so it conducted a raid but the accused reportedly attacked them too and tore the uniform of Head Constable Manjit Singh.

The police team along with PSPCL employees, somehow, managed to overpower them. Two of them were arrested while Immanual Masih managed to flee.

The police have registered a case under Sections 379, 379-B, 353, 186 and 34 of the IPC against the accused. Mukhtar Singh, who was entrusted with the investigation, said raids were on to arrest the third accused. He said the police recovered two sharp-edged weapons and 200 metre electricity wire from the accused.

Removal of ‘kundi’ connection

• A PSPCL team went to Mudh village to collect payment from defaulters when it was attacked by Gaminiel Masih, Nathanel Masih and Immanual Masih. 
• The accused were miffed as their ‘kundi’ connection had been snapped by PSPCL officials. 
• They attacked cops, too, when they turned up after the assault. Two have been arrested while Immanual managed to flee.