Protesters ransack grid station in Nowshera

NOWSHERA: Enraged over the prolonged power outages in Ramazan, the protesters from various areas of the district ransacked the City gridstation and damaged official vehicles on Wednesday.

The residents of Nowshera Kalan, Ghandhri, Fazal Ganj, Misalabad and adjoining villages took out a protest rally against the unscheduled power outages after announcement were made on loudspeakers of mosques.

The protesters marched to the city gridstation and ransacked the office and damaged official vehicles. The Nowshera-Mardan Road remained blocked for two hours to traffic.The protesters also manhandled the security guard at the office.

Addressing the protesters, tehsil councillor Suliman Jilani said that the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) official were carrying out unscheduled loadshedding in the district.

The police arrested 20 protesters, including Suliman Jilani for damaging public property. The police also resorted to aerial firing and baton-charged the protesters leaving scores of protesters injured. Pesco spokesperson Shaukat Afzal told The News that the power remained suspended due to a fault, which was removed on Wednesday.