GREATER NOIDA: The Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate has imposed the National Security Act ( NSA ) against two men who had allegedly shot dead a security officer of a substation on April 21 after he refused to restore electricity in the middle of a storm.The alleged murder had sparked protests by the substation’s workers, who had cut off power supply to around 40 villages and a few small factories in Dadri for almost 16 hours.Explaining the rationale behind invoking the NSA against the two accused, district magistrate BN Singh said: “Electricity in the area was cut off for over 16 hours and it led to disruption of social order. The NSA mandates that for maintaining public order, an order can be passed to detain a person and ensure he does not act in any manner that can hamper maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community. These services include power.”Sources said the district administration had invoked the NSA after almost three years. While Neetu Gurjar, one of the accused, is yet to apply for bail, his accomplice Titu has recently applied for one.“We started the proceedings so that he does not get bail and spread terror after coming out of jail. Similar proceedings will be initiated against Neetu as and when he applies for a bail,” the district magistrate said.Under the NSA, a person can be detained without bail or trial and the authorities need not disclose the grounds for his detention if they believe the suspect can act in a way that poses a threat to the security of the country or maintenance of public order.Singh said he had written to the home department to approve the order, which will hold ground if the government gives its nod in 12 days.The alleged murder had taken place in April this year when Neetu Gurjar of Badpur village, who has about five cases of murder and attempt to murder against him, arrived at the substation and asked the security officer, Satveer Tomar, to restore electricity immediately.Tomar refused to do so, telling him he would restore power when the storm subsided. After sometime, Neetu returned with his friend Titu and allegedly shot Tomar thrice, killing him on the spot.Singh said the duo had also fired at the gate of the substation, causing chaos and an environment of fear in the area.Neetu, according to police records, had been watching an IPL match when the power supply was disconnected. Officials later said he had been involved in match-fixing.The Gautam Budh Nagar administration had on May 23 lodged a non-cognizable report against Neetu and Tito after power department officials complained they were being repeatedly threatened over the phone.According to police sources, Neetu had arrived at the substation in March too and demanded that electric supply be restored. Kunwarpal, who was on duty then, had given in to his demand.After the April murder, a case had been lodged against Neetu and Titu under IPC sections 302 (murder), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) at Badalpur police station.

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