Case against JE has staff on warpath

MOGA: The registration of a criminal case against a junior engineer (JE) of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) after two persons were burnt alive when a transformer burst here last month has the employees crying foul.
The case under Section 304-A of IPC (causing death by negligence) has been registered against JE Jarnail Singh, who is district president of Moga JEs council, following an inquiry by sub-divisional magistrate.
On the evening of May 17, a transformer in front of Arora Hardware Store in Punjab Kaur Market on Akalsar Road here had burst, leading to the death of two persons, the owner of the shop, Pardip Kumar, and a customer Sukhmandar Singh of Mothanwali village. Another shopkeeper Ashok Puri received burns on his arm and a scooter standing in front of his shop was damaged. Both the deceased were charred beyond recognition and customer could be identified only after two days.
This incident has led to widespread resentment among residents of the area for poor maintenance of transformers.
The residents had alleged that the oil was leaking from the transformer for last many months and despite repeated complaints by shopkeepers, the PSEB authorities had failed to replace the transformer.
Following a protest by the residents against this gruesome incident, the PSEB authorities and district administration had ordered separate probes in the incident.
The inquiry by the SDM indicted the JE for irresponsibility in maintaining the transformer which led to its bursting and death of two persons.
However, the registration of the case has caused furore among the PSEB employees, particularly JEs, who alleged that Jarnail Singh was being made a scapegoat under political pressure. Om Parkash Rai, the vice-president of JEs Association, said that a delegation of JEs would meet the DC and SSP Moga on Monday for withdrawal of case. He warned if the case was not cancelled, a strike would be observed by shutting down power supply.
The JEs Association claimed that The shopkeepers of the area who were responsible for the incident as they had encroached on the land earmarked for the transformer.
The deceased shopkeeper was using the open space under the transfer for exhibiting his goods, alleged Om Parkash. The association members alleged that the transformer was installed in the area in 1974 and there was never any complaint of oil leak.