KASUR: A number of villagers on Wednesday ransacked the Lesco office, damaged furniture and official record and beat up some staffers in protest against what they said shifting of their domestic meters from outside of their houses to electricity poles.

The protesters also staged a demonstration and blocked Allahabad-Kasur Road for about three hours and chanted slogans against the distribution company.

Reports said a Lesco team, headed by the West Allahabad SDO, conducted a raid at Arzanipur after receiving complaints of power theft. In order to control power theft, the SDO asked the team to shift meters to electricity poles. The Lesco team shifted more than a dozen meters to the poles and returned to their sub-division office after some women offered resistance.

Later, a number of residents riding motorcycles and tractor-trolleys came to the Lesco office. They allegedly ransacked the office, damaged furniture and threw files on the ground and beat up some officials when they offered resistance.

Thereafter, the protesters gathered at Allahabad-Kasur Road near Allahabad Chowk and blocked traffic for about three hours, creating a great deal of inconvenience for motorists.

A car rider, Muhammad Aslam, and his two friends resorted to aerial firing after the protesters refused to clear the road. Police have taken three shooters into custody.

After several rounds of dialogue, the protesters dispersed.

IMPERSONATORS: Mustafabad police on Wednesday arrested four boys impersonating candidates for matriculation examination.

On the identification of examination staff, Mustafabad police arrested Muhammad Waqas from Government Degree College. Later, police arrested Muhammad Rehan, Muhammad Nasir, and Ibrahim Khan from Government Boys School, Baidian centre.

Police have registered separate cases.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018