Angry villagers manhandled an Assistant Engineer and ransacked a A P Discom substation at Vajrapukothur mandal in Srikakulam district on Saturday, after a lineman was killed while conducting repair works atop an electricity pole.
According to Sub-Inspector Nancharaiah, the lineman Tadi Lokanadham (26) had climbed on the pole to repair power cables. He had alerted the sub-station about the works to be carried out, and had got the power shut off.
Even as he was working on solving the problem, the power was restored, and Lokanadham was electrocuted. He died on the spot.
Villagers blamed the Discom officials for being negligent, and marched to the sub-station. They manhandled the AE and ransacked the furniture there. The villagers then staged a dharna before the sub-station, demanding cases to be booked against the negligent officials, as well as compensation for the lineman's family.
Police arrived on the scene and placated the villagers.
Lokanadham's body has been sent for postmortem. Further investigations are on.