Lineman electrocuted; family cries foul
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, January 22 2014 :
A lineman of the Electricity Department was electrocuted while trying to restore a faulty high tension line at Tuibuong area here early today.
Meanwhile, alleging negligence on the part of the dept concerned for the electrocution, the deceased's family has refused to claim the body.
The incident reportedly occurred at around 9 am today about two hours after the lineman identified as Khuptonminlian alias KT Minlian and an accompanying SO of the department sought shutdown from the main relay center, according to the family.
The victim's family further contended that the electrocution amounts to murder as negligence on part of the department was responsible for it.
Had the power been not restored before they received the go-ahead, or the process of seeking the shutdown been properly channelised, no death would have occurred, said the family.
The lineman was declared brought dead by doctors in the District Hospital here at 9.35am.As the family refused to claim the body even by the evening, the Electricity Department and the victim's family held talks till 5 pm today but failed to arrive at any compromise.
Since the department officials who were led by an Executive Engineer has maintained that they were not in a position to promise or fulfill any of the demands made by the family they ended up in a stalemate, said a source.
The body lies unclaimed at the district hospital mortuary till the time of filing this report this evening.
Meanwhile, the Zomi Students Federation (ZSF) has late in the evening today day petitioned the Chief Minister to fulfill three-point demands of the family by 12 noon of tomorrow; failing which they warned of launching an indefinite agitation.
Exgratia of Rs 5 lakh, appointment under die in harness to the next of kin within three months and payment of last pay drawn by the lineman to the next of kin until his superannuation age were the demands raised by the ZSF.