DADU, Aug 20: Two special Hesco teams raided various places and disconnected the power supply of defaulters in 70 villages of six sub-divisions.

Engineer Ghulam Mustafa Soomro told newsmen that the power supply to the villages falling in the sub-divisions of Johi, Sehwan, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Dadu-I and Dadu-II were disconnected for non-payment of bills worth Rs15 million.

The raids were conducted under the directives of Hesco chief executive Tariq Arshad.

The teams started an operation against 2,800 defaulters in Johi Khairpur Nathan Shah, Dadu-I and Dadu-II to recover Rs365.11m from consumers.

Mr Soomro said Hesco had sent a list of 400 defaulters to police stations for registration of FIRs.

Some of the villages where the power supply of defaulters have been disconnected are Hashim Khoso, Hero Sharif, Manjan, Kamangar, Ali Khan Bughio, Dilawar Panhwar, Sher Mohammad Leghari, Wasayo Janwari, Dital Babar, Noorja, Arzi Naich, Shaikh Maula and Purano Kalri.

Mr Soomro said that a team of Hesco along with a revenue official checked the bills of the residents of the Dur Mohammad Abro village of the Khairpur Nathan Shah Taluka and found that only Rs5,000 had been paid against an outstanding amount of Rs600,000.

He said that Hesco disconnected the power supply of the village as a result of which the villagers had started protesting by blocking the Indus Highway.