Illicit electricity tapping by STF claims life of Tamil farmer in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 August 2010, 08:33 GMT]
Illicit tapping of electricity by the Special Task Force (STF) of Sri Lanka Police claimed the life of a father of seven children at Aayiththiyamalai police division in Batticaloa district last week. The STF camp is located at Ma’nipuram junction. STF commandos in this camp have been tapping electricity from the main line to their camp. One of the live wires fell into the paddy field close by and the owner of the land was electrocuted as he attempted to remove it, Batticaloa sources said.

Kaathakuddy Kulanthaivadivel, 65, of Naripuththoaddam was identified as the victim killed.

The victim’s son who went to the paddy field in search of his father saw him lying in the paddy. His too got an electric shock when he attempted to lift him and is admitted to Chengkaladi hospital.

Kulantahivadivel’s relatives brought this matter to the notice of the police immediately but the complaint was not entertained, the sources added.

Meanwhile, police and officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board last week arrested several residents for illicitly tapping electricity from main line for domestic purposes.

They were produced in court and fined by the magistrate.

But the authorities had failed to take steps to arrest police and army personnel who have also been tapping electricity illicitly in several places in the Batticaloa district.