HYDERABAD: Police resorted to heavy aerial firing and teargas shelling to disperse protesting power consumers in Peon Colony after they blocked Shahbaz Building roundabout on late Saturday evening over disconnection of illegal connections.

Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) had launched the disconnection drive for the recovery of Rs14m from defaulters and those drawing electricity illegally. The Cantonment police said five policemen were injured in the violence and 17 protesters were arrested.

Hesco spokesman Sadiq Kubar said residents of Peon Colony, located outside Sahhbaz Building, had installed 89 connections through two transformers and had defaulted on bills. Rest of the residents were also stealing electricity through hooks, he said, adding that Rs14m were to be recovered from defaulters and users of illegal connections.

A Hesco team led by SDO Saddar subdivision Sabir Hussain launched an anti-power theft campaign on Saturday and........

© Dawn Business