Farmer fined for Power theft, cops start enquiry against power staff for trespassing

The Punjab Police has marked an inquiry into an FIR that a farmer has got lodged against the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) employees accusing them of forcibly entering into his house at a village in Barnala.

PSPCL team had gone there to check power theft cases and was allegedly beaten up by the farmer. The PSPCL employees had staged a dharna that was lifted Friday after farmer Harmohan Singh, who had allegedly attacked the PSPCL team, was fined Rs 48,000 for power theft.

The farmer was found indulging in power theft. He was taking power directly from the main supply line by bypassing the meter installed at his house. He attacked us and tore our register,” said Amandeep Singh, the sub-divisional officer, who along with junior engineer Sukhwinder Singh was attacked at the Bajdike village on July 10.

The PSPCL staff had lodged an FIR at Thuliwal police station. Later even the farmer got an FIR lodged against the PSPCL employees.[COURTESY;THE INDIAN EXPRESS]