Case against JE stir controversy

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">MOGA: The registration of criminal case against a junior engineer (JE) of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) here for the death of two persons, who were burnt alive after bursting of a transformer last month here, has stirred a controversy.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">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 JE''s council, following an inquiry by sub divisional magistrate.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">On the evening of May 17, a transformer installed in front of Arora Hardware Store in Punjab Kaur Market on Akalsar Road here had burst, leading to death of two persons, the owner of the shop Pardip Kumar and his one custmor Sukhmandar Singh of Mothanwali village.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">Another shopkeeper Ashok Puri had also received burn injuries on his arm and a scooter standing in front of his shop had been damaged.Both the deceased were charred beyond recognition and the customer was identified after two days of the incident.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">This incident has led to widespread resentment among the residents of the area for poor maintenance of the transformers. The residents had alleged that the oil was leaking from the transformer for last many months and despite repeated complaints by the shop keepers of the market, the PSEB authorities had failed to replace the transformer.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">Following a protest by the residents against this gruesome incident, the PSEB authorities and district administration had ordered separate probes in the incident.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">The inquiry by the sub divisional magistrate indicted the JE for his irresponsibility in maintaining the transformer which led to its bursting and death of the two persons.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">However, the registration of the case has caused furore among the PSEB employees, particularly JEs in the district who alleged that Jarnail Singh was being made a scape goat under political pressure. Om Parkash Rai, the vice president of JE''s Association, told that a delegation of JEs would meet deputy commissioner and SSP Moga on Monday for withdrawal of case. He warned if the case was not cancelled, a complete strike would be observed by shutting down power supply.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">The JEs Association claimed that it was the shopkeepers of the area who were responsible for the incident by encroaching upon the land earmarked for the transformer. The deceased shopkeeper was using the open space under the transfer for exhibition of his goods, alleged Om Parkash. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">The association members alleged that the transformer was installed in the area in 1974 and there was never any complaint of leaking oil out of it.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="">However, when the area residents are fuming with anger against the PSEB authorities for turning dead ear to their complaints before the incident happened, the JEs'' threat of going on strike has caught the administration in a fix.</span></div> </div>