RAHIM YAR KHAN: Repeated attempts to steal high-tension underground wires (electric cables) along Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) have alarmed the authorities concerned.

Sources told Dawn that two attempts of theft of wires were made in the past week at section 4 of M-5. The first incident occurred at location K-495 near Nawazabad rest area where four thieves initially had a squabble with the motorway guards and later opened fire, injuring one of them. The gangsters tried to take away 180-metre wire from two poles but failed and escaped.

A couple of days later, sources said, thieves again cut the wires from four poles and opened fire on the security guards and took shelter in sugarcane field. Later, the police recovered the wires from the field.

Sources said the thieves stole the high-tension wires because of their high cost. A metre of wire costs Rs8,000 to 9,000 due to which it is the soft target for thieves.

National Highway Authority (NHA) Director Public Relations Sohail Aftab said the incidence of theft of electric cables or fence on both sides of the motorway was a challenge for the law enforcers.

He said FIRs had been lodged against the criminals many times but the suspects were set on bail.

The National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) and local police helped fight crime along the motorway, he said.

He said private security guards would be hired to protect installations along some motorways but the NHA could not manage hundreds of kilometres’ area.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2022