Power thieves threaten UP babus with false molestation, rape cases

Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation officials, who have launched a drive against power theft in the state, are facing an unusual problem.

Angry over being caught for stealing power, the  offenders have been threatening officials that they would lodge cases of molestation and even rape if their connection was snapped.

Power Corporation sources said the field officials have been accused of molestation and eve-teasing at many places by those caught stealing power and whose connections were cut.

A senior power official in the state capital was threatened by an offender that he would be implicated in a rape case if he imposed a hefty fine. The official reportedly decreased the amount of the fine to escape the charge.

An office bearer of the Power Employees’ Union said the offenders have lodged cases of assault, theft and molestation against officials after they conducted raids and detected power thefts at their homes.

“Often, the engineers were thrashed by the angry offenders,” said general secretary of the union D C Dixit. 

He expressed resentment over the fictitious charges and said such threats would inculcate a sense of fear among officials, and they might stop conducting raids unless they were given some kind of protection by government.

Several cases of assault of power engineers have been reported from Ghaziabad, Jhansi and some other districts as well.

“The team that conducts raids should be given adequate security. The police should also investigate the cases lodged by the offenders before acting against the officials,” he said.