A 32-year-old lineman's death during a transformer repair in Faridabad's Jajru village has sparked allegations of foul play, corruption, and a cover-up. Sonu's family has demanded a murder investigation, rejecting the initial accident claim.
Family Alleges Murder Over Electricity Theft Probe
Sonu's wife, Nirmal, alleged on Thursday that her husband was targeted because he was exposing an electricity theft racket where power was diverted from villages to private entities for profit. "He was honest and refused to be part of corruption. That is why they killed him," she claimed. The family also alleged severe workplace harassment, with Sonu reportedly under pressure from officials, particularly a junior engineer, to participate in illegal electricity-related activities.
Circumstances Raise Doubts
Nirmal questioned the circumstances of the incident, noting that while Sonu was on the ground wearing protective gloves, he was electrocuted, whereas a co-worker on the pole survived. This has raised doubts about the sequence of events. Faridabad Deputy Commissioner Ayush Sinha stated that the matter is under investigation and assured necessary action based on findings.
FIR and Family's Demands
An FIR was registered on Wednesday against multiple electricity department officials, including the foreman, junior engineer, SDO, and executive engineer, under sections related to negligence. The family argues these charges are inadequate and demands that Section 302 (murder) be invoked. They also alleged that Sonu was often forced into exhausting shifts lasting up to 24 hours, leaving him little time for his family.
Details of the Incident
Sonu, an experienced electrical worker and former local sports player, left for his shift around 3:30 PM on Tuesday but never returned. According to Nirmal, he was uneasy about the assignment, questioning why they were sent to repair a transformer that had reportedly been shut for over a year without any public complaint. The family stated that Sonu and a co-worker climbed the pole after securing an official shutdown permit, safely removing two jumper wires before attempting to cut the third. At that moment, power was suddenly restored, causing a fatal electric surge that killed Sonu instantly. His father, Rajendra, said the family was informed around 7 PM that Sonu was in ICU, but upon reaching the hospital, they found him already dead. "They lied to us. This is not an accident, this is murder," he said, accusing officials of fabricating a story to escape liability.
Union's Response and Broader Issues
State vice president of All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union, Jitender Tewatiya, said the union facilitated a payment of Rs 10 lakh to the grieving family during the cremation, along with an additional Rs 25,000 for funeral rites. Tewatiya explained that workers had already disconnected two phases of the transformer, but while cutting the final phase, an unexpected current flowed through the line. "The regular employee on the structure felt the shock and survived, but the outsourced worker on the ground grabbed the wire and was instantly electrocuted," he said. Tewatiya noted that the back current might have originated from an industrial generator in the area, though the exact source remains under investigation. He revealed that within the last month, eight to 10 power workers died in similar accidents across Haryana, attributing this to intense work pressure, high summer temperatures, and failure by management to distribute essential safety equipment.
Sonu is remembered as a lively individual who loved cricket and kabaddi and cherished simple joys. His death has devastated his household, with his mother inconsolable and bedridden.
