Ahmedabad, 3 April 2014

One of the reasons why power situation is well in Gujarat is regular crack downs on power mafias, even in difficult areas. Take an example: There was a time when major part of Juhapura, Ahmedabad’s Muslim majority area was provided electricity by different local gangs of power mafias illegally. The power company was suffering huge loss due to this, but police was reluctant to take action due to fear, and government was not showing will to act against the menace.

The situation has changed substantially in past few years. There are regular crackdowns against the mafias by power company staff with the help of police force. Such raids are also carried out in densely populated Muslim areas of Godhra, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and other places.

As the entire atmosphere of state has changed, the Muslims too have changed. Earlier when power company staff dared to raid power mafias in Muslim localities, they were attacked with stones, dirty language and force, but for past few years, raids accompanied by police are relatively more peaceful and successful. Barring few miscreants, most of the local people extend cooperation to power company staff and police.

In a latest incident, Vejalpur police arrested four from Juhapura for running illegal electricity supply network in some pockets of Juhapura. Police had information that Sultankhan Masedkhan pathan, Mohammad Salim alias Tabar Mohammad Sarifbhai Sheikh and Feroze alias Batko Pirmohammad Sheikh and Harunbhai alias lightwala Valimohammad Patel were operating illegal power supply network in Juhapura, Sankalitnagar ward A to J, Maksud Park, Afzal Tower, Juhapura main bazzar, Fatehwadi canal, Varisnagar, Sarkhej, Nehrunagar, Gyaspur Bhatha, Ayesha Mosque etc area for last one year. Whenever power company staff visited the places, they were were forced to leave the area by local mob.

The gang led by Sultan Pathan was charging Rs. 250 per connection per month according to police.