KHOWAI, June 5 (TIWN): Rather than taking actions against those people, who are involved in the game of electric theft, Khowai Electricity Department has lodged complaints against two people who have legal electricity connections at their homes.

Reportedly, on May 23rd Khowai Electric Department had lodged a complaint in Khowai Police Station against the two residents, accused of taking illegal electricity connections at their homes.

The residents are identified as Mana Urang of Poddobill Block area under Khirodnagar village of Khowai district and Sukhlal Munda of Borobaghai village under Khowai west Singichora Gram Panchayat.

Despite of their legitimate electric connection at their homes, Khowai Electric Department Junior Engineer Suranjan Debnath has lodged a complaint against both of them that they have taken illegal electricity connections at their homes, said Mana Urang.

Police has lodged the complaint under case number: Khowai PS 45/2015 section 379 and 135(1) (a) of Electric Act.

However, after the investigation it was found that the Sukhlal Munda of Borobaghai village has paid an electric bill of Rs. 906, bearing receipt number 105001043189 and also has a consumer ID bearing number 110163514 issued by Khowai Electric department, said Khowai Police Station SI Shivsankar Tripura.

Talking to TIWN reporter, he further said that after visiting the house of the accused victims they found that both of them has the legitimate electric connections in their homes and they also have the proper   documents issued by the Khowai Electric department.

Interesting matter is that the victims have also lodged a counter complaint against the Khowai Electric Department and police is further investigating the case.  

Electricity theft has become a regular crime. It has come to notice that someone illegally can hook into a   power supply connection, tampers with a meter to avoid recording electricity usage. Legitimate electricity consumers do not engage in these behaviors, so the impact of electricity theft, including the danger is often unrecognized.

Most electrical theft crimes occur through meter tampering, bypassing meters, and tapping power lines. Other less frequent crimes include tapping into neighboring premises, using illegal lines after being disconnected, self-re-connection without consent, and electrifying fences are regularly happening in and around us. The Electric Department should take legal actions to impose a banned on this crime and take necessary actions against those who are involved in this crime rather than harassing the legitimate consumers.