Screengrab from NDTV.
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh electricity board has initiated a drive to seize bill defaulters' motorbikes, cattle, tractors etc.
But after a video surfaced in which an elderly woman running after officials pleading not to take household items went viral, trouble arrived. Two state government employees were suspended, and an inquiry order was issued, NDTV reported.
Further, the services of two contract workers, who were part of the controversial drive, were terminated.
It was the Madhya Pradesh Eastern Area Power Distribution Company Limited that initiated the drive to recover power dues amounting to Rs 518 crore by the end of the current financial year.
The state electricity board department officials started seizing motorbikes, water pumps, tractors and even cattle from those who are long-term power bill defaulters. In the villages of Sagar, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Gwalior and Morena districts, many received recovery notices.
The electricity department officials reached Rekha Ahirwar's home at Deori in Sagar district on Saturday to recover her power dues of Rs 19,473. Then only Rekha Ahirwar, elderly mother-in-law, was home, taking a bath.
The officials allegedly entered the house and started taking away a bed and other household items. According to the elderly woman, she pleaded with the officials not to take the items and explained to them that they didn't belong to Rekha Ahirwar, in whose name the power bills were issued. She said that the officials gave no ear and seized all the items. She wasn't even properly dressed when she ran after the officials pleading with them.
In the viral video, the elderly woman could be seen holding onto her clothes while running after the officials on the village streets.
It was after facing strong criticism the BJP-led state government suspended two employees and ordered a probe.