Youth Arrested for Setting Fire to Street Pole in Lucknow, Causing Major Power Disruption
A 21-year-old man in Lucknow has been arrested for deliberately setting fire to a street pole that carried essential power, television, and communication fiber cables. This reckless act triggered a significant power outage, plunging numerous households and offices into darkness for several hours in a central area of the city.
Incident Details and Arrest
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday on Ram Mohan Rai Marg, near a building construction site and close to a police chowki. The accused, identified as Vishal, was apprehended on Saturday following a review of CCTV footage.
The footage revealed Vishal calmly approaching the street pole, examining the tangled web of wires, inserting a piece of paper into the cables, and then igniting it with a matchstick. This act of arson not only disrupted daily life but also impacted critical infrastructure.
Widespread Impact and Investigation
The power outage affected scores of residences and businesses, and notably, the state police intelligence headquarters, located approximately 100 meters away, also suffered from the blackout. Initially, authorities suspected a short-circuit, but the CCTV evidence clearly showed the intentional act of vandalism.
Alok, a junior engineer at the Clyde Road powerhouse, provided further insight, stating, "We discovered during the investigation that the accused, a local resident with skills in electrical work, had made several attempts over the past few days to damage cable infrastructure, leading to previous power disruptions in the area."
Legal Charges and Motive
Vishal has been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Specifically, section 324(5) for causing damage to property valued at one lakh rupees or more, and section 287 for negligent conduct involving fire or combustible materials that endangers human life or safety.
Sub-inspector Madhukar Singh, in-charge of the Sultanganj police outpost, commented on the arrest, saying, "The accused was taken into custody based on the CCTV evidence. However, we are still investigating the motive behind his actions and why he targeted public property in this manner."
This incident highlights the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to deliberate acts of sabotage and the importance of surveillance in maintaining public safety and order.
