Assault on MESCOM powerman: Accused remanded to judicial custody

Belthangady: A resident of Ajukuri in Dharmasthala was arrested and sent to judicial custody for assaulting MESCOM powerman over a dispute about an unpaid electricity bill.

The accused has been identified as Rijesh (41). He allegedly assaulted Dundappa J and Umesh, the powermen employed by MESCOM at Kokkada.

On September 19, Umesh had cut the power lines of a home in Hatyadka village over non-payment of electricity dues. The homeowners had asked Rijesh to talk with  Umesh to find a way to restore power. The talks failed and Rijesh had allegedly verbally assaulted and threatened to kill the power man. This was brought to the notice of Junior Engineer Krishna Gowda.

Meanwhile, the homeowners paid the electricity dues on September 22 and got the connection restored.

On Thursday night, when Umesh was shopping at Kokkada with his colleague Dundappa, Rijesh arrived at the scene and started verbally assaulting him again. When Dundappa intervened, Rijesh reportedly hit him on the head with a bottle. Dundappa was rushed to a hospital in Belthangady with serious injuries.

Dharmasthala Police later arrived at the spot and arrested the accused after an investigation. Rijesh was produced before the court and has been remanded to judicial custody.