BSES engineer dies after being chased by mob during anti-power theft drive in southwest Delhi

New Delhi: A Delhi-based engineer working with an electricity distribution company died after his car rammed into a tree while he was trying to get away from a mob that allegedly chased him during an anti-power theft drive, a spokesperson of the company, BSES, said.

The incident took place in southwest Delhi's Jaffarpur Kalan area on Monday.

The engineer has been has been identified as Abhimanyu Singh, 32. Four others who were in the car along with him were also injured.

According to the BSES spokesperson, three teams conducted raids in Jaffarpur Kalan's Jhul Jhuli village on Monday following a tip-off about large-scale power theft in the area.

However, the teams accompanied by Delhi Police personnel came under attack and had to retreat, he added.

"The teams were chased by bike-borne goons. In the ensuing melee, one of the cars rammed into a tree. Assistant engineer Abhimanyu Singh was grievously injured. He later died," the spokesperson said.

A senior police officer confirmed that the raids were conducted successfully and the BSES teams were given adequate security.

"Twenty-six policemen accompanied the BSES teams. The anti-power theft drive was successful. One of the cars met with an accident. No one was being chased as per initial reports," the officer said.

The officer further added that a case has been filed and the four injured employees have been admitted to the hospital.

Reportedly, nearly 14,000 cases of power theft having a connected load of 33,000 kilowatts have been found in the area in the past five years.

In a similar incident of anti-power theft drive in outer Delhi's Ranhola this June, three BSES employees along with a Delhi Police sub-inspector were injured in stone-pelting by residents.

"These are not isolated incidents. Efforts of the teams to check irregularities are often thwarted by law-defying people who function like organised gangs. Power theft has taken shape of an organised crime and active police support is needed to curb this menace," the BSES spokesperson concluded.