Man electrocuted to death in JK's Kathua

A man was electrocuted in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a protest from the villagers who took hostage of a power development department (PDD) officer and tied him to an electric transformer, the police said today.

The incident took place yesterday at Dugan village of Bani where Ramesh Lal, a local resident, and some livestock died due to electric shock.

Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Rohit Kajuria said an FIR was lodged against the mob and investigation started to bring the culprits to book.

"The officer was on duty when he was taken hostage by the mob. There was no fault on the part of the PDD as the death of the villager took place inside his home due to short-circuit," Kajuria told PTI.

He said a police party rushed to the scene after getting the information about the incident and rescued the officer.

They said a Junior Engineer of the PDD, after getting information, rushed to the village but was taken hostage by the angry protesters who had assembled to perform the last rites of the deceased. They protestors then tied the official to an electric transformer.

They said the protesters were blaming the PDD for the death of Lal and the cattle, alleging that despite repeated pleas, the PDD failed to provide proper electricity infrastructure to the village.