Woman and Youth Allegedly Assault Power House Staff in Lucknow Over Electricity Dispute
A dramatic incident unfolded at a power house in Lucknow's Vikas Nagar area, where a woman, reportedly angered by a power disconnection at her residence, allegedly stormed the premises and assaulted electricity department employees. The altercation, which occurred on February 18, has sparked widespread attention after a video of the event surfaced online, showing the woman slapping staff members and a youth accompanying her joining in the assault.
Chaos Erupts at Sector-14 Power House
The incident took place at the Sector-14 power house in Vikas Nagar, Lucknow. According to officials, the woman, identified as Nidhi Sharma, a resident of house number 14/115 in Sector-14, had initially contacted the control room around 2.10 pm to complain about a lack of electricity supply to her home. Power house staff requested her to provide connection details and information regarding payment of dues. However, when asked for this information, Nidhi allegedly became agitated and abruptly ended the call.
Shortly after the call, she reportedly arrived at the power house along with a youth. Eyewitnesses described her entering the premises and immediately beginning to abuse electricity employee Anoop Kumar. The situation escalated rapidly as she allegedly threatened staff with dire consequences and tore official documents inside the control room. When another employee attempted to record the commotion on his mobile phone, Nidhi and the youth allegedly snatched the device and assaulted him.
Injuries and Panic Among Staff
During the scuffle, electricity worker Harish Yadav was reportedly slapped and strangled, while other staff members, including Akash Kannaujia and Rajneesh Yadav, sustained minor injuries while trying to defuse the situation. The sudden attack caused panic at the substation, with employees seen running for safety to avoid further harm.
Police Intervention and Legal Action
Authorities were alerted through Dial-112, and police responded promptly. Junior Engineer Sunil Kumar Verma, who was not present at the substation during the incident, rushed to the spot upon receiving information. A formal complaint has been filed at the Vikas Nagar police station. Station House Officer Alok Kumar Singh confirmed that an FIR has been registered based on Sunil's complaint against Nidhi Sharma and an unidentified youth.
Further investigation is currently underway. The charges against Nidhi include sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), such as BNS 115 (2) for voluntarily causing hurt, BNS 121 (1) for causing hurt to a public servant, and BNS 351 for criminal intimidation, among others. This incident highlights the tensions that can arise over utility disputes and underscores the importance of maintaining decorum in public service interactions.
