Loadshedding: Infuriated mob besieges grid station

FAISALABAD:

Hundreds of people besieged the Faizabad grid station on Tuesday, breaking windows, doors and furniture and damaging at least 12 vehicles parked at the grid station.

The protest was staged by power loom workers from Ghulam Muhammadabad and Faizabad and was led by Waheed Khalid, the Council of Loom Owners Association chairman. The protesters also set signboards of various political parties on fire and burnt tyres causing traffic jams on various roads for hours. They chanted slogans against the Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company for long hours of loadshedding which they said had rendered the 190,000 power loom units in the region non-functional for three days.

The protestors held sticks, iron rods and hockeys and threw stones at the grid station. While some employees fled, most of them were stuck inside the grid station.

The violent mob protested for three hours before being dispersed by the police.

Also on Tuesday, hundreds of villagers from Chak 507-GB attacked Fesco team when the latter were trying to disconnect electricity supply connections.  The incident took place in Mureedwala, where a Fesco team was conducting a raid to monitor power pilferage. The men were kicked and also beaten with sticks. The officials managed to flee unharmed.

Police have registered a case against 34 men. No arrests have been made so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2012.