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Power riots may erupt in State
WHILE A political row has erupted between the Central and State governments over supply of power from the northern grid, senior police officers are a worried lot over the increasing power crisis. They fear outbreak of ?power riots? if the crisis persisted in the state. Already several places in the state had witnessed violence.
WHILE A political row has erupted between the Central and State governments over supply of power from the northern grid, senior police officers are a worried lot over the increasing power crisis. They fear outbreak of ‘power riots’ if the crisis persisted in the state. Already several places in the state had witnessed violence.
“We are extremely concerned over the situation,” said additional director general (law and order) Padman Singh. To tackle the situation, the DGP headquarters has already alerted the district police chiefs, asking them to provide proper security to power installations.
However, the officers have been directed to have patience in dealing with the agitating people.While in Kanpur the people are becoming increasingly restive, there are disturbing reports from the entire western UP. According to report from Kanpur, agitated people had taken law in their hands on a number of occasions.
They not only beat up employees of the Kanpur Electricity Supply Company (Kesco) but also attacked several sub-stations. While road blockades have become routine, now people have begun disrupting train services. One such incident took place on Sunday on the Kanpur-Delhi route.
The situation is no better in other parts of UP.
Leader of Teachers Group in Vidhan Parishad Om Prakash Sharma told Hindustan Times on phone from Meerut that the situation was fast heading from bad to worse. He said power department officers were avoiding staying in offices for fear of attack by the people. He said there was hardly any power supply in rural areas, which had forced the farmers to hold demonstrations. Sharma said the entire west UP had been facing the massive power crisis.
In Poorvanchal also, resentment is brewing among the people. In Varanasi last week, people held massive demonstration against the government on the issue. They held mock trial of officers and their effigies were hanged.
