Official data has revealed that forces damaged 26 transformers of Power Development Department (PDD) in various areas of the summer capital in past over three months of unrest.
Officials quoting the data said since July 9 forces damaged transformers in Tengpora, Batamaloo, Azad Basti, Danderkhah, Madina Bagh, Iram Lane and Mehjoor Nagar areas, Fateh Kadal, Malik Angan, Baba Demb, Soura, Ashai Bagh, Ellahibagh, Safakadal, Hamdan Colony, Safa Kadal Kantpaistan, Shanglipora, Parimpora, Kadimohlla, Sicop Mohalla, Maloora, Palpora, Zainakote, Bodgair and Hazuri Bagh.
“The forces deliberately damaged the transformers by firing bullets and tear gas shells. Transformers in our locality were targeted in retaliation to our protests as per calendar of resistance leaders,” said a group of aggrieved locals of Batamaloo.
“In villages, the forces damage crops to suppress people. In city, they target our transformers and smash window panes of houses and damage parked vehicles,” said locals of Fateh Kadal.
Locals of Malik Angan said that “during protests, youth block all entry and exit points of the locality to safeguard their lives, transformers and houses from forces.”
A senior officer of PDD said “amid challenging situation in Srinagar, we have been working round the clock to ensure there is no disruption of electricity supply to people in general and the essential services like hospitals in particular. We have repaired most of the damaged transformers.”
