Protester at PSPCL head office celebrated Diwali with “Self Immolation”

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Protester at PSPCL head office celebrated Diwali with “Self Immolation”

Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in

Pawan Kumar, a daily wager of around 30 years and a resident of Bhadaur in Barnala district who is protesting against the Punjab state power corporation limited management, attempted a self immolation bid on the Diwali day, in PSPCL head office building.

Pawan Kumar along with 10 other persons were protesting against the PSPCL management at top of the head office building from the last around 51 days, for not adhering to their demands, making policy to adjust the kin’s of deceased employees of PSPCL employees and giving them jobs under compassionate grounds in the powercom. Many of their accomplices were also staging dharna outside the PSPCL head office main gate.

On November 4, 2021 Pawan Kumar, who is at the top of the seven storey building of the Punjab state power corporation limited (PSPCL) , attempted self immolation. He is immediately overpowered by his accomplices and douses the fire.

“The protesters, who were staging dharna at the front gate of the building even tried their best to convince him to not to this act and they even shouted that their members have met the chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. But he didn’t relent and poured petrol on him. By the time their accomplices who were on the other side of the building, he immolated himself. But other persons, who were with him put a blanket over him and saved his life. On the first day ten protesters reached the top of the head office building and later Pawan Kumar joined them. He reached the top by climbing the water pipes of the building ” said a member of the association.

Protester at PSPCL head office celebrated Diwali with “Self Immolation” . As per the eye witnesses, later SDM, SP,DSP, SHOs reached on the spot and reached the top floor to check his condition, to have a dialogue with him. They (protesters at the top of the building) didn’t open the door and asked the officers that if they try to enter forcefully, he will jump from the top floor,”

When contacted the SDM Patiala, he said “ the person is fine. We all tried to convenience him that government is already making the policy and will definitely solve their issue. So have patience for few more days.”

When contacted the SHO Kotwali, he said “as of now, no fresh FIR has been registered against any person, after yesterday’s incident. A FIR number 337 under section 309, 385 IPC has already been registered at Kotwali police station, on the complaint of PSPCL officials. If PSPCL official gave any fresh complaint, against them regarding yesterday’s incident, we will file a fresh FIR against those person/persons.”

When contacted the Punjab state power corporation limited Director (Administration), RP Pandove, he said “ the committee formed to sort out their issues has already submitted its report on the October 31, 2021 to the state government. We have given a complete, favorable report. Now due to festival holidays, upcoming vidhan sabha session the government has given November 12, 2021 date for meeting and the same has already been conveyed to the representatives of their association. Hopefully their issues will be sorted out, at the earliest. But why did he do this, I am also shocked.”