Osian tense after discom officials, farmers clash

JODHPUR: The situation continues to be tense in Osian, Jodhpur after a clash between farmers and vigilance team of discom on Friday. Alleging harassment by vigilance wing in the name of power theft and other irregularities, hundreds of farmers have been demonstrating since Friday.
Coordinator Tulcha Ram Savar of Bhartiya Kissan Sangh alleged that the discom has been unnecessarily harassing farmers who were already suffering on account of spurt in electricity prices and recent demonetization move.
“At a time of depression, instead of providing relief, the vigilance wings are harassing farmers in the name of reduction in power loss and load survey ,“ he said, adding that the officials misbehave with their women, demand money and threaten action. Referring to the allegation, discom chief engineer Avinash Singhvi said it was a routine process for bringing down power theft and the vigilance teams have been regularly conducting raids for the purpose.
“But if there was any truth in the farmers' allegations of harassment, it would be sub ject to inquiry,“ he said, adding that if any wrong has been done, action would be taken.
The farmers also submitted a memorandum to the SDM (Osian) on Saturday afternoon demanding roll back of hiked power prices, adequate power supply and quashing police cases against some farmers.