HYDERABAD: Police resorted to heavy aerial firing and teargas shelling to disperse protesting power consumers in Peon Colony after they blocked Shahbaz Building roundabout on late Saturday evening over disconnection of illegal connections.

Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) had launched the disconnection drive for the recovery of Rs14m from defaulters and those drawing electricity illegally. The Cantonment police said five policemen were injured in the violence and 17 protesters were arrested.

Hesco spokesman Sadiq Kubar said residents of Peon Colony, located outside Sahhbaz Building, had installed 89 connections through two transformers and had defaulted on bills. Rest of the residents were also stealing electricity through hooks, he said, adding that Rs14m were to be recovered from defaulters and users of illegal connections.

A Hesco team led by SDO Saddar subdivision Sabir Hussain launched an anti-power theft campaign on Saturday and disconnected illegal connections. Power supply to the transformers was also suspended.

During the drive, enraged consumers blocked Shahbaz Building roundabout in the evening. They pelted police, motorists and Hesco team with stones. Vehicular traffic and movement of pedestrians on all roads leading to the roundabout was severely disrupted.

CBH slams police action as ‘inappropriate’

Peon Colony is located within the limits of the Cantonment Board Hyderabad (CBH) and according to the board’s councillor from the area, Qazi Ashhad, police went for an overkill last night. “I should have been consulted [before going] for the drive and I would have coordinated with the protesters; but police overreacted and dealt with the situation inappropriately,” he said.

Police resort to heavy aerial firing after protesters injure five cops, damage many vehicles

DSP Cantonment Iftikhar Buriro told Dawn that he did try to engage protesters in negotiations but in vain. “Protesters wanted Hesco to restore power supply first. The situation was aggravated when the protesters started pelting police and passers-by with stones. Windowpanes of vehicles were smashed,” said the DSP, adding that ASI Mukhtiar and four other policemen received superficial injuries after being hit by stones.

Two cases registered

The roundabout connects different areas of Qasimabad, City and Latifabad talukas. As protesters didn’t budge from their stance and threw stones at police, reinforcements were called from A-section Latifabad, Cantonment and City police stations. When residents did not end road blockade, police resorted to teargas shelling and heavy aerial firing, forcing protesters to flee. Roads were reopened for vehicular traffic late in the night.

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Seventeen residents were arrested and two separate cases were registered against them one on behalf of the state and the other on a complaint lodged by Hesco SDO Sabir Hussain.

The Cantonment police registered the FIR invoking Sections 353, 324, 147, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 6-8 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. On Sunday, the 17 arrested suspects were produced in the Consumers Court which remanded them in police custody.

The Hesco SDO’s FIR was registered under Sections 462 J & K of the Amendment Electricity Act, 2016, and Sections 353, 506, 504, 147 and 149 of PPC against 26 nominated and 20-25 unknown protesters.

In the police FIR, 22 suspects were nominated and 15-20 others were unknown protesters.

Hyderabad Commissioner Bilal Ahmed Memon told Dawn that he, being chairman of the committee for anti-power theft campaign notified by the Sindh chief secretary had allowed this Hesco campaign. According to him, besides government employees, illegal occupants of houses were living in Peon Colony who were involved in the Saturday evening disturbances. “There is zero tolerance for road blockade as it is red line,” he said.

SSP Dr Farrukh Ali said that the police action was aimed at only restoring order because these disturbances were causing inconvenience to the general public and the protesters were not ready to lift the road blockade.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2024