Sambhal: In the wake of a court-mandated survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 24, 2024, which was marred by violence, authorities in Sambhal have intensified efforts to combat electricity theft. This crackdown has led to the registration of over 1,400 cases, including allegations against 16 mosques and 2 madrasas.
Superintending Engineer Vinod Kumar revealed details of the operation during a press briefing on Wednesday. “So far, we have filed more than 1,400 cases of electricity theft across Sambhal, with 16 mosques and 2 madrasas being named in these cases,” he said. “The total fines imposed have reached ₹11 crore, and approximately ₹20 lakh has been recovered already,” Kumar added.
The campaign’s impact extends beyond legal action, as Kumar pointed out a positive outcome. “Since the crackdown began, we’ve received applications for new electricity connections from 22 mosques and one church,” he noted.
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Authorities discovered irregular load patterns during inspections, which raised suspicions. “We noticed a drop in electricity load from feeders early in the morning, followed by sharp increases between 10 PM and 4 AM. This led us to conduct targeted nighttime inspections. Just two days ago, we registered 42 additional cases of power theft,” Kumar explained.
In a related incident, an FIR was recently filed against Ziaur Rahman Barq, a Samajwadi Party leader and Lok Sabha MP from Sambhal, for alleged electricity theft at his residence. The complaint followed an inspection by officials from the electricity department.
The violence that erupted during last year’s survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid resulted in the tragic loss of four lives and left several others injured. This has spurred authorities to tighten measures against illegal activities, including electricity theft, in the district.
