NOWSHERA/MARDAN: Several protesters and five cops were injured on Friday as the police and villagers clashed during a demonstration against the unannounced and long hours of loadshedding in Rashakai village in Nowshera district. The protesters also ransacked and torched equipment at the 220-KV grid-station in Sheikh Maltoon Town in Mardan and blocked the Nowshera-Mardan road for traffic for several hours. The residents of Rashakai village took to the streets to protest against the unannounced and excessive power breakdowns in the area. Tehsil councillor-elect Inayatur Rehman, president of Anjuman Tajran Farooq Khan, Awami National Party (ANP) district general secretary Khushal Khan and others were leading the protesters. Announcements were made through loudspeakers in mosques to ask the people to come out of their houses and join the protest. The protesters first gathered in Rashakai bazaar and blocked the Nowshera-Mardan road for traffic for several hours. The speakers said the unscheduled and prolonged power outages had made life miserable for the consumers. They said the consumers were facing immense hardships due to hours long power cuts in summer. They said the excessive power cuts had led to shortage of drinking water in the area. Later, the protesters marched towards the 220-KV grid-station in Sheikh Maltoon Town in Mardan. They blocked the road in front of the grid-station by burning tyres. The protesters attacked the grid-station and torched the office record and damaged the equipment and vehicles parked there. The stick-wielding protesters also beat up the staff of the grid-station and damaged the furniture and other valuables. The protesters then returned to Rashaki and again blocked the Nowshera-Mardan road for traffic. The police officers sought reinforcement and fired tear gas shells and baton-charged the protesters. The police also resorted to aerial firing to disperse the mob. More than 50 protesters and five policemen were injured in the baton-charge and clash between the two sides. The protesters also reportedly fired gunshots at the police. Four protesters identified as Nasrullah, Munir, Ajmal and Shehzad suffered bullet injuries in the incident. The police also arrested ANP local leader Khushal Khan and others 61 protesters.Power supply to various parts of Mardan and Nowshera districts was suspended due to the ransacking of the grid-station and damage to the equipment by the mob. Assistant Commissioner Abdul Hameed told The News that the army personnel led by Lt Col Kamran reached the site of the blockade and held a meeting with the elders of the area for reopening the road.
