Residents of a rural pocket in Jind woke up to a total blackout and a massive economic blow today. In what appears to be a coordinated strike, a gang of criminals dismantled a record 10 transformers in a single night, leaving the community in shock and without power.
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The Modus Operandi: According to preliminary police reports, the gang acted with professional precision. They likely used insulated tools to disconnect the 11KV lines before toppling the transformers. Once on the ground, the thieves drained hundreds of liters of transformer oil and extracted several quintals of copper wiring, leaving behind only the hollow iron shells.
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Agricultural Impact: The timing of the theft is particularly devastating for local farmers. With the Rabi season preparations and current irrigation needs, the loss of 10 transformers has halted dozens of tube wells. “We are already struggling with water timing, and now our standing crops will suffer. It takes weeks for the department to replace even one transformer; replacing ten will be a nightmare,” said a village elder.
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The “Oil and Copper” Black Market: Police believe the stolen goods are being sold to scrap dealers across the border. Transformer oil is often used illegally as a cheap additive for diesel, while copper fetches high rates in the clandestine metal market.
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Police Investigation: The Pillukhera/Safidon police station has registered a case under the Electricity Act and relevant sections of the BNS. Forensic teams have collected fingerprints from the discarded casings. “This is not the work of petty thieves. It requires a gang of 5-6 people with technical knowledge of power grids,” said a senior police official.
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Villagers’ Demand: Angry villagers held a brief protest today, demanding the immediate restoration of power. They have asked for “Thikri Pehra” (community night patrolling) to be reinstated with police support, as this is the third such incident in the district in the last month, though never on this scale.
Administrative Response: DHBVN officials stated that a formal FIR has been lodged. They have urged villagers to report any suspicious vehicle movements at night, especially near electrical installations. The department is currently assessing whether mobile transformers can be deployed as a temporary fix to restore essential lighting to the village.
