KASUR: At least four officials of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) were injured when the team they were part of was allegedly assaulted by villagers during a crackdown on power thieves in Bhamba village on Thursday.

Following the incident, Lesco officials went on a strike, locked their offices and held a sit-in in the lawns of their office in Kot Radha Kishan. A video clip of the incident went viral on social media.

Police lodged a case against 17 suspects, including five nominated, without any arrests so far.

According to the complainant Sub-Division Officer Attaullah Khattak, a 10-member Lesco team headed by him was checking Bhamba village against power thieves when it found Din Muhammad using direct electricity through hooks (kunda). When the team tried to remove the hooks and take legal action, the suspect along with his sons and other villagers attacked them with axes, clubs and iron rods.

Resultantly, Lesco officials, including Tahir Islam, Muhammad Azam, Dildar Hussain and Muhammad Yaqoob, were injured. They were rushed to Kot Radha Kishan THQ Hospital for medical aid.

Police lodged a criminal case against Din Muhammad, his sons Tahir, Arif, Tanver and Naseer, and 12 unidentified under sections 462, 186, 379, 147 and 149 of the PPC. Police claimed to be conducting raids to arrest the suspects.

Lesco officials demanded the attackers be arrested.

Published in Dawn, january 6th, 2023