KHYBER: Stealing of costly electricity wire and coils from transformers inparts of Bara subdivision of Khyber continues unchecked since return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to the region in 2014-15.

Sources in Bara told Dawn that ‘transformer thieves’ had so far taken away coils from over a 100 transformers in different parts of Sipah, Akkakhel, Shalobar, Kamarkhel and Qambarkhel areas over last five to six years,frequently leaving consumers in darkness for days.

They said the theft of entire transformer unit started prior to the return of IDPs when houses and markets in Bara subdivision were deserted due to migration of the entire population as security forces had started a military operation in the region against the local militant groups since 20l09.

Turab Ali, a social activist from Sipah tribe, told this correspondent the modus operandi of thieves changed after the return of IDPs and they started stealing only the coils out of the transformer’s iron casing as the coil was easy to be taken away.

He said that most of the theft incidents occurred at midnightwhen the entire Bara was plunged into darkness due to power loadshedding.

“The coil is the most expensive component of a transformer and is easily sold by the thieves for Rs10,000-15,000,” he added.

He said the thieves had now resorted to stealing electricity wires and at least three such incidents had taken place in Dogra-Alamgudar, Gandaw and Yousaf Talab localities where electricitywires measuring over 1,000 metres were stolen.

Sheikh Gul, Sipah Khidmat-i-Khalq Committee president, told Dawn that the matter had been brought into the notice of local administration and police, but to no avail so far.

He said the residents of Bara had installed all these transformers in their respective areas soon after their return to homes in 2015 while they also shoulder the responsibility of repairing them in case of technical fault.

He said the disappearance of transformers had badly affected routine life in parts of Bara as the residents were left with no power supply for several weeks after a transformer was stolen from any locality.

LOCKDOWN: Police in collaboration with the district administration implemented lockdown restrictions before and during Eid holidays in Bara, Jamrud and Landi Kotal subdivision.

Police in Jamrud said additional force was deployed at the entry point to Ghaar Ouba at Ali Masjid picnic point where some young revellers tried to reach the spot.

They said that other picnic points in Landi Kotal like Charbagh Aabshar(waterfall) and Enzari Kandaw were made out of bounds for the visitors.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2021