NASHIK: Collecting dues from the consumers with arrears and catching power theft is becoming a herculean task for the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) in Nashik Zone, given the fact that citizens are allegedly either attacking the MSEDCL officials or threatening to kill their own family members.While six incidents of attack on MSEDCL employees were reported in a week’s time, an incident of a man allegedly pouring petrol over his wife on MSEDCL premises happened on Wednesday.“Irked by power disconnection, consumer Prashant Jadhav and his wife came to the Jail Road section office. After an altercation over power bills, Jadhav went out, got the petrol and poured it on his wife. She didn’t react, but the staff rushed and prevented a possible mishap,” chief engineer BK Janvir said.The officials lodged a complaint in this regard at the Upnagar police station.Jadhav, hailing from the same area, is among those consumers whose names feature in frequent power disconnection over arrears. Since there were complaints about high meter readings the meters have been changed and repeated surveys were conducted, the MSEDCL officials said.On Tuesday, additional executive engineer rank official Suesh Jadhav was attacked by a shopkeeper who was allegedly found to be tapping power illegally. He was attacked and kerosene was poured on him, though his colleagues saved him.“We have arrested Dnyaneshwar Gorade and Khandu Gorade, who ran Roshan Furniture shop at Yeola and they have been remanded in three days of police custody,” police said.Chief engineer Janvir, who visited Yeola on Wednesday said, “We have ordered the employees to move in teams only and ensure that one person is recording the events. We have asked them to take police protection wherever there is a mob-like situation.”On August 28, Swatee Vanase was allegedly attacked by Shravan Thorate after the official went to his premises in Sayale village in Sinnar taluka to catch power theft.The next day, Tatya Kapse in Ahmednagar district dared Pushkaran Mengal for action against alleged power theft by him. On August 30, Sakharam Tambe attacked MSEDCL contractual employee Sharad Narsale in Parner taluka, Ahmednagar district.Vikas Pawar, another employee in Malegaon was threatened by Vijay Chandrakant Chavan and Keshav Chandrakant Chavan. At Dahegaon village of Nandgaon taluka in Manmad, Santosh Domade allegedly manhandled Prakash Pawar. Both incidents occurred on Saturday.All the cases have been registered with respective police station.

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