A consumer in Karnataka's Raichur district allegedly set fire to a Gescom (Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company) office after refusing to pay his electricity bill, police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the Gescom sub-division office in the Lingasugur area.
Details of the Incident
According to police, the accused, identified as Ramesh, entered the office around 6 PM and demanded that officials waive his pending bill. When officials refused, he allegedly poured petrol from a canister he had brought and ignited it. The fire quickly spread, destroying documents, records, cash amounting to Rs 1.2 lakh, and several computers.
"The accused was upset over a bill of Rs 8,500 and threatened staff before setting the office on fire," said a senior police officer. "He has been arrested and a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code."
Response and Investigation
Fire tenders were called to the spot and managed to douse the flames after an hour. No injuries were reported as staff had evacuated the building. Gescom officials estimated the loss at around Rs 5 lakh, including damage to infrastructure and equipment.
"This is a shocking act of vandalism. We will ensure strict action is taken," said a Gescom spokesperson. Police are investigating whether the accused acted alone or had accomplices.
Impact on Services
The fire disrupted electricity bill payment services in the area for a day, but alternative arrangements were made by Wednesday. Gescom urged consumers to settle dues through online platforms to avoid such confrontations. The incident highlights growing frustration among consumers over billing issues, though officials condemned the violent response.
