Bagaha/Bettiah: Three remote villages in Laxmipur Rampurwa Panchayat, situated on the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, have been without electricity for nearly three months after an organised gang posing as electricity department officials stole solar power equipment.
The thieves, masquerading as government workers, visited Jhundwa Tola village under the pretext of replacing outdated batteries. They managed to convince villagers of their legitimacy, eventually taking away 120 batteries and inverters. The gang never returned, leaving the village in complete blackout.
With no electricity supply since the theft, residents have been forced to cross into Nepal to charge mobile phones and cook meals during daylight, as darkness envelops the area each evening. On Tuesday evening, the same gang attempted another theft in nearby Bean Toli village. However, villagers became suspicious and managed to catch three of the six perpetrators, while the rest escaped.
The electricity department denied authorising any team for battery replacement. Executive Engineer Amit Kumar, who visited the site, confirmed that no such work was sanctioned. Investigations revealed that the suspects arrested are scrap dealers with no official ties to the electricity department.
A formal complaint has been filed at Bagaha police station. The three arrested have been sent to jail, and police have launched a search for the remaining gang members.The incident has stirred anger among residents, who warned of protests if power is not restored promptly. Officials have promised swift action, assuring that solar batteries will be resupplied and electricity restored to the affected villages.
