Koppal: Tempers flared and a sandal flew in a shocking display of defiance as a Koppal resident unleashed a violent assault on a Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM) employee. In an altercation caught on camera, Chandrashekar Hiremath brazenly slapped the GESCOM employee for attempting to get an unpaid bill cleared.
This dramatic incident sheds light on a wave of rebelliousness fueled by promises of free electricity, leaving authorities scrambling to find a delicate balance between political pledges and the need for fiscal responsibility.
According to sources, the incident took place over an unpaid bill of Rs. 9,990 that was accumulated over a span of six months. Sources also claim that the GESCOM employee, identified as Manjunath attempted to temporarily disconnection the electricity supply as a means of enforcing bill payment.
Manjunath sought resolution to the issue and politely requested Hiremath to settle his outstanding dues. Then, without warning, the accused became belligerent, hurling verbal abuse towards Manjunath before resorting to physical assault. In an act of aggression, Hiremath resorted to slapping Manjunath and threw a slipper at him.
Electricity officials are attacked by local residents in Karnataka when they came for meter reading.
Residents says that they won’t pay from electricity now onwards as per Congress Guarantee
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) May 24, 2023
Prompt action was taken by one of Manjunath’s vigilant colleagues, who captured the distressing assault on camera. Disturbingly, the accused further demonstrated his hostility by attempting to assault Manjunath’s colleague, who was recording the video.
In the recorded video, Hiremath can be heard defiantly expressing his refusal to comply with the bill payment, blaming GESCOM personnel for their alleged failure to address his request to change the registration of the electricity meter. In a brazen display of nonchalance, the accused boldly proclaimed, “I will not pay, do whatever you want.”
In response to the act of violence, Manjunath filed a formal complaint against Hiremath at the Munirabad Police Station, seeking legal redress for the unprovoked attack.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing tension between consumers and electricity supply officials in recent times. Numerous instances of individuals refusing to pay their electricity bills have been reported, citing the Karnataka government’s promise of free electricity.
All these incidents followed as the Congress party has pledged to provide up to 200 free units of electricity to every household, contributing to the prevalent belief that bills need not be settled.
The incident involving Chandrashekar Hirematj serves as a poignant example of the urgent need for constructive dialogue and feasible solutions to address these challenges, safeguarding the interests of both consumers and service providers alike.