An attempted theft at a crucial power transmission facility in Gujarat turned violent in the early hours of Saturday, resulting in one alleged thief sustaining a bullet injury and another being apprehended by security personnel. The incident occurred at the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) substation located in Karjan, within the Vadodara district.
Incident Details: Stone-Pelting and Self-Defence Fire
The incident unfolded on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, January 9-10, 2026. According to Vadodara Superintendent of Police Sushil Agrawal, a gang of approximately five individuals attempted to forcibly break into the premises of the electricity board substation. The suspects reportedly pelted stones at the armed security guards stationed at the facility.
In response to the attack, one of the guards fired a shot in what the police have described as self-defence. The bullet struck one of the alleged thieves, 24-year-old Vijay Khatri, in the leg. Khatri, suspected to be part of the intruding gang, was subsequently rushed to SSG Hospital in Vadodara for medical treatment.
One Caught, Three on the Run
While the injured Khatri was being taken for treatment, the security team managed to catch one more member of the suspected gang. This individual was handed over to the police. However, around three other accomplices managed to escape from the scene under the cover of darkness.
SP Sushil Agrawal confirmed that the Karjan police have launched a comprehensive search operation to track down the fugitive suspects. The police are also meticulously verifying the documents and license of the security guard who discharged his firearm. "The security guard had an arms license and so far, his papers appear to be clean. We are looking into the case in detail and the process to lodge the FIR is ongoing," Agrawal stated.
Recurring Threat of Copper Theft
Authorities highlighted that such theft attempts are not isolated events. A. N. Patel, the Superintendent Engineer at GETCO, explained that thieves frequently target electrical substations to steal valuable materials like copper and other metals found in electrical equipment.
"We have these incidents where thieves attempt to enter our premises to steal items made of copper and other such materials that are useful for them. Sometimes, they also cut open our devices and connections to commit the theft," Patel told The Indian Express. He added a grave warning about the dangers the thieves themselves face, noting, "In many cases, the (suspected thieves) are also electrocuted as our connections are always live and working."
Patel confirmed that the security guards deployed at the Karjan substation, who successfully thwarted this latest attempt, are employed through an outsourcing agency. He commended their vigilance in preventing a potentially disastrous theft that could have disrupted power infrastructure.
The police probe continues to examine all angles of the case, including the background of the captured suspect and the ongoing manhunt for those who escaped.
