Power team attacked, SDO fires in air in self-defence

Kanpur: Tension prevailed after a sub-divisional officer (

SDO

) of the electricity department allegedly fired in the air when a group of villagers attacked the enforcement team that went to check power theft in the Jarihapur village under the limits of Saurikh police station area of Kannauj district on Friday morning.Sources said that village resident Deshraj Singh runs a flour mill, on which a power bill of about Rs 5 lakh was due.To recover the dues, SDO

Arvind Kumar

, JE Sunil Kumar, clerk Sudhanshu, line man Mukesh Tiwari and

Vipin Kumar

went to the village with the enforcement team at the house of the flour mill owner on Friday morning.According to the SDO, the mill owner was found to be involved in power theft.When the team was about to remove the illegal connection and initiate further action, the mill owner and villagers created ruckus and attacked the team. On this, SDO Arvind Kumar in self-defence took out his pistol and opened fire in the air.Chapunna police outpost in-charge

Vineet Verma

on being informed rushed to the spot and sent SDO Arvind Kumar to police station Saurikh under police protection.“A police team has been dispatched to the village. Going by the preliminary findings, SDO Arvind Kumar had fired shots in the air in self defence. However, investigations are underway to know the truth. A police team arrived at the spot and collected information from the villagers. Action will be taken on the basis of evidence,” said Vineet Verma further.