HYDERABAD, May 10: Residents of Phulelli and Paretabad held a protest demonstration on Monday night after a teenaged boy was electrocuted in the main Phulelli bazaar. They ransacked the Ilyasabad subdivision office of Hesco in the Effendi town and smashed around 2,500 electricity meters.

Babar, son of Mohammad Haroon, was working in his shop when he was electrocuted while Hesco officials were working on a nearby electricity pole. The body was taken to the Hyderabad Civil Hospital for post-mortem.

People of the area came out after the incident, burning tyres and smashing hundreds of power meters. Some areas were plunged into darkness as the protest continued for over three hours.

The protesters raised slogans against Hesco officials. They also caused damage to some shops.

The protesters also set on fire furniture of Hesco office and beat the staff.

Main bazaars remained closed in the area as funeral of the boy took place on Tuesday morning.

According to the deceased’s uncle, Umer Hayat, Hesco officials were replacing meters in the area and they took their work lightly which led to the death of the boy.

He claimed that Iqbal Qaimkhani, a CBA union leader, was supervising the work in the area with the help of non-technical men. He said these people fled from the place, leaving behind their equipment.

Mr Qaimkhani could not be contacted despite attempts.

Hesco sources said Mr Qaimkhani being a line superintendent was working under directives of the superintending engineer of circle-II to instal meters to prevent direct power supply connections in the Ilyasabad sub-division as there were 70 per cent line losses in one feeder of the area, Daal Para.

Hesco has not lodged an FIR of ransacking of its office and manhandling of the staff.

BOOKED: The Fort police lodged three separate cases of the Arms Ordinance against three employees of a betel nut trader Sharif for resorting to aerial firing during a marriage ceremony, killing a boy and causing injuries to another.