Overdue: Man Assaults Power Staffer

 Hyderabad: Mirchowk police took an Old City resident into custody for threatening a power department staffer who had gone to disconnect the electricity supply due to non-payment of bills, and assaulting him.

Police said the was lodged by Mohd Abdul Saleem Ruhi, 35, an artisan with the Moghalpura section of the TS Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL). Saleem told the police that on the instruction of assistant engineer G.L.N Raju, he had gone to Purani Haveli to disconnect the supply of electricity bill defaulters.

Among them was Mohd Omer Chowdary who, Saleem said, owed to '9,348 in power bills since March. Omer allegedly abused Saleem over the phone. Upon learning that he had reconnected the power illegally, discom staff led by Raju went to the spot to disconnect the power again.

When he saw Saleem disconnecting the powerline, Omer started abusing them, hit the staffer in the chest and brandished a knife. Police booked Omer, said Mirchowk sub-inspector P. Krishnaiah.