A couple allegedly attacked BSES officials on Wednesday while they were on duty, removing the cable meter of the accused as they did not pay their electricity bill in East Delhi's Karawal Nagar.
The husband-wife duo, whose names are withheld, are residents of New Sabhapur in Karawal Nagar. The unprovoked attack was so severe that one of the officials sustained serious injuries and received 6 stitches. A complaint in this regard has been given to Karawal Nagar police station and the same is being investigated.
A BYPl team had visited the premises of the couple to disconnect and remove the electricity meter as the consumer - the lady - had defaulted in paying their electricity bills of over Rs 23,000. Even the previous cheque issued by her had been dishonoured by the bank. Even before disconnection, the consumer was requested to pay, but she refused, hence leaving the team with no option but to carry out their statutory duty in such cases, said sources.
As the linesman was trying to remove the service cable after removing the meter, the husband-wife duo threatened BSES officials to reinstall the meter or face dire consequences. Immediately thereafter, they started beating the linesman. The lady hit the linesman's with a stick.
Meanwhile, in another incident in Jai Prakash Nagar (Yamuna Vihar Division) on September 30, a consumer had pointed a pistol at a BSES official, who had gone to disconnect and remove the meter for non-payment of bills.
A BSES spokesperson said, “This is not an isolated incident. Efforts of discom teams to check the irregularities are often thwarted by the law-defying people on many occasions. Whenever teams reach these 'sensitive' areas, unscrupulous elements 'gherao' them and obstruct officials in imparting their duties.”
BRPl & BYPl are premier distribution companies and Joint Ventures between Reliance Infrastructure limited and Government of Delhi.