500 Electricity transformers ‘Damaged By Forces’ in 3 Months

Motive of security personnel is vengeance against protesting populations: PDD Officials

While people in Kashmir have witnessed worst human tragedies of killings, injuries by bullets, pellets in last three months, unabated use of force didn’t stop there as since July 9 more than 500 electricity transformers were allegedly damaged by security forces across Kashmir ‘as an act of vengeance against people.’
As per officials in the Power Development Department, forces fired bullets, pellets and shells on transformers to plunge areas where protests were taking place into darkness.

A senior PDD official said that most of the damages have been recorded in South Kashmir. “It has been the modus operandi of forces to damage transformers to teach a lesson to people for protesting. It becomes difficult for people to manage without electricity,” said the senior official.
President, Kashmir Transformers Manufacturers and Repairers Association, Jalal-ud-Din Wani, said many transformers damaged by security forces were repaired in PDD central workshop Pampore. “Private units repaired at least 300 transformers damaged by bullets, pellets and shells in last three months,” Wani said.
This has put extra financial burden on the already struggling Power Development Department. Wani said that private units despite working tirelessly are being denied payment by the government.

“Government has failed to clear our pending bills worth Rs 30 crore. During last three months there has been increase in number of damaged transformers due to prevailing situation as most of the transformers were damaged due to bullets, pellets and teargas shells,” he said.
Wani adds that such transformers take time to repair.