Latehar
Electricity theft is common, but the theft of power cables has emerged as a new and serious challenge for the electricity department, with officials describing the trend as potentially as damaging as the theft of electricity itself.
Low-tension aerial bundled cables, used for overhead power supply, are increasingly being cut and stolen between electricity poles. The latest incident was reported in Latehar district, where an alleged gang involved in cable theft was busted by villagers in Chandwa police station area in the early hours of July 30.
According to Latehar SDPO Sandip Gupta, a group of around a dozen people from Ratu village in Ranchi, allegedly led by 53-year-old Zakir Khan, was involved in cutting and stealing insulated overhead power supply cables.
Gupta said alert villagers of Sasang caught Khan while he was allegedly involved in the theft and handed him over to the police after beating him. The incident was reported to police around 3.45 am on July 30.
The matter came to light after a contractual electricity worker informed village chowkidar Krishan Dayal Sahni about the cable theft. Sahni subsequently lodged a complaint against 50-60 unidentified persons for allegedly assaulting Khan. Police registered a case under Sections 109, 115 and 117 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Following the alert, electricity officials inspected the area and detected cable theft at three locations — Sasang, Chetar and Loharsi.
At Sasang, around 1,050 metres of insulated overhead power supply cables connected to 30 electricity poles were allegedly cut and stolen. At Chetar, another 550 metres of cables from 15 poles were stolen, while at Loharsi, 300 metres of cables connected to eight poles were removed.
Assistant Engineer Birsa Oraon estimated the combined loss from the three incidents at around Rs 5.16 lakh. He also lodged a separate FIR at Chandwa police station against Khan and his associates under relevant provisions of the Electricity Act.
Police said two FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident — one relating to the alleged assault on Khan and another concerning the theft of electricity cables.
Khan was initially taken to the Community Health Centre at Chandwa for treatment. Owing to the severity of his injuries, he was later referred to a higher medical centre.
Executive Engineer, Electricity, Daltonganj Circle, Santosh Kumar, said the theft of low-tension aerial bundled cables was a serious concern as it could disrupt electricity supply to households.
“It is a sad trend if such domestic low-tension aerial bundled cables are cut and stolen, as it can disrupt power supply,” Kumar said.
