Vazhikkadavu boy's electrocution exposes dangers of power theft
The illegal electric trap set for wild boars at Vazhikkadavu, which claimed the life of a 15-year-old school boy and injured two others on Saturday late evening, has exposed the deadly danger lurking behind the clandestine use of electricity for criminal purposes, including the capture of wild boars.
The culprits were found to have rigged a makeshift set-up using a gaff attached to a long bamboo pole to tap electricity from a single-phase overhead power line. They then channelled the stolen power through a long uninsulated cable directly into the canal water, targeting a spot where wild boars were likely to cross.
'We found that the live wire had been recklessly placed in the canal, posing a lethal threat to any living being that came into contact with the water,' a Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) employee told The Hindu. 'What we witnessed was no accident; it was a deliberate death trap set by someone with criminal intent,' he added.
The five youngsters who went fishing in the canal late Saturday evening were unaware of the electric current lurking in the water. As three boys were electrocuted, their friends on the bank raised an alarm and raced for help.
While Ananthu alias Jithu lost his life, local residents rescued Shanu Vijay and Yadu Krishnan and rushed them to hospital. Ananthu sustained burn injuries on his body reportedly after hitting the electric wire. The postmortem revealed that he died of electrocution.
KSEB, in an official statement posted on Facebook on Sunday, condemned the attempts by some vested interests to blame the board for the tragedy. 'We have been repeatedly warning against such criminal power thefts. Blaming KSEB for the illegal actions of private individuals is reprehensible,' said the KSEB post.
KSEB warned that unauthorised use of electricity for electric fencing was illegal under Section 135(1)(e) of the Electricity Act 2003, and would be punishable with imprisonment up to three years and a fine.
KSEB clarified that electric fences would be allowed for agricultural crop protection only with the approval of the Electrical Inspectorate. 'It must comply with IS 302-2-76 (1999) standards, using battery-powered energisers with impulse generators.'
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Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Teen killed by electric snare meant for wild boar in Nilambur; 1 held
Kozhikode: A 15-year-old student, Anandu alias Jithu, was electrocuted after coming into contact with a live wire trap set for hunting wild boars at Vellakatta near Vazhikadavu in Nilambur on Saturday night. Two of his cousins, Yadukrishna, 24, and Shanu, 18, suffered injuries in the incident and are admitted to Nilambur district hospital and a private hospital. Anandu, son of Suresh and Shobha of Aamadan House at Atti near Vellakkatta at Vazhikadavu, was a class X student of Manimooli Christ King Higher Secondary School. Police arrested Nambyadan Vineesh, 36, of Puthiripadam for laying the live wire trap near a stream along the forest fringes. He was booked under Section 105 of the BNS (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and the investigation of the case was handed over to the district crime branch and DSP C Alavi. Police said Vineesh set up the live wire trap by illegally drawing power from the KSEB LP line next to the stream using a wooden pole with a metal hook. The five-member group, including Anandu's friends and relatives, had gone fishing in the Chattipara stream using nets when the incident happened around 8.30 pm. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The post-mortem report confirmed the death as due to electrocution and said the boy suffered three burn injuries, including in the stomach, on coming into contact with the live wire. Nilambur DSP Saju K Abraham said the accused was nabbed around 7.15am. He said that as of now, police had information about only one accused, but added that the investigation was underway. Police will be examining the call records of the accused as well, he said. Shyam Kumar, a resident of the area who took part in the rescue operation, said he was informed about the incident by Maneesh, who was part of the group. The three, including Anandu, had fallen into the stream after coming into contact with the live wire. He managed to pull Anandu out of the water with a pole but could not save him. The others were rescued after the fuse in the KSEB line was removed. "We had complained of poaching gangs illegally laying live wire traps extending to 500 metres by connecting it to the KSEB power line and asked authorities to make the overhead power line an insulated one," he said, adding that poachers had made the sale of wild meat a business in the area. Emotional scenes abounded when Anandu's body was placed for homage at the Manimooli school and later at his house. The funeral was held at the Kuttikunnu public cemetery near his house. There has been an increase in deaths due to electrocution from illegal fences and live wire traps laid to capture wild animals in the state. In 2023-24, 16 persons died due to contact with illegal fences in the state. According to electrical inspectorate officials, prior permission is required to install electric fencing, and an energiser is compulsory for installing fences to regulate the voltage supply to the fence. But in many cases, lines are illegally drawn from overhead KSEB power cables and connected to fences or traps.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Vazhikkadavu boy's electrocution exposes dangers of power theft
The illegal electric trap set for wild boars at Vazhikkadavu, which claimed the life of a 15-year-old school boy and injured two others on Saturday late evening, has exposed the deadly danger lurking behind the clandestine use of electricity for criminal purposes, including the capture of wild boars. The culprits were found to have rigged a makeshift set-up using a gaff attached to a long bamboo pole to tap electricity from a single-phase overhead power line. They then channelled the stolen power through a long uninsulated cable directly into the canal water, targeting a spot where wild boars were likely to cross. 'We found that the live wire had been recklessly placed in the canal, posing a lethal threat to any living being that came into contact with the water,' a Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) employee told The Hindu. 'What we witnessed was no accident; it was a deliberate death trap set by someone with criminal intent,' he added. The five youngsters who went fishing in the canal late Saturday evening were unaware of the electric current lurking in the water. As three boys were electrocuted, their friends on the bank raised an alarm and raced for help. While Ananthu alias Jithu lost his life, local residents rescued Shanu Vijay and Yadu Krishnan and rushed them to hospital. Ananthu sustained burn injuries on his body reportedly after hitting the electric wire. The postmortem revealed that he died of electrocution. KSEB, in an official statement posted on Facebook on Sunday, condemned the attempts by some vested interests to blame the board for the tragedy. 'We have been repeatedly warning against such criminal power thefts. Blaming KSEB for the illegal actions of private individuals is reprehensible,' said the KSEB post. KSEB warned that unauthorised use of electricity for electric fencing was illegal under Section 135(1)(e) of the Electricity Act 2003, and would be punishable with imprisonment up to three years and a fine. KSEB clarified that electric fences would be allowed for agricultural crop protection only with the approval of the Electrical Inspectorate. 'It must comply with IS 302-2-76 (1999) standards, using battery-powered energisers with impulse generators.'
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Class 10 student dies of electrocution, triggers political row in poll-bound Nilambur
A teenager died of electrocution from an illegal wild boar trap at Vazhikadavu here, triggering widespread protests and a political row in bypoll-bound Nilambur. Jithu, a Class 10 student, and three of his friends came into contact with a live wire from an electric fence set up illegally on private land to trap wild boars on Saturday, police said. Though locals rushed them to hospital, Jithu was declared brought dead. Two others were critically injured. The death of the boy has intensified political tensions ahead of the crucial June 19 assembly bypoll in Nilambur. The opposition UDF alleged the boy's death was a "government-sponsored murder," blaming administrative inaction against such illegal traps. State Forest Minister A K Saseendran denied the allegations on Sunday, calling it a "political conspiracy" ahead of the bypoll. The death sparked protests on Saturday night by Congress and IUML workers, who blocked roads and marched to the local police station, clashing with police. BJP workers also staged separate protests, accusing the government of negligence. UDF candidate in Nilambur bypoll Aryadan Shoukath and LDF nominee M Swaraj visited the hospital last night where the teenager's body was kept. Addressing reporters here, Shoukath said the incident was a "state-sponsored murder". He alleged that such illegal electric traps were laid with the knowledge of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and so the government could not evade from its responsibility. Swaraj also demanded a comprehensive probe into the incident. Reacting to the incident, Minister Saseendran said there is a deliberate attempt to turn the sentiments of locals against the government and the forest department in the run-up to the bypoll. He added that a comprehensive probe is underway. Terming the incident as "tragic and painful", the minister said a teenager has lost his life and the condition of two others is serious. "The incident happened in a private property. But the owner says that he has not errectd any such illegal fencing there. Local people also said that there was no such fencing till last evening. KSEB officials confirmed that they were unaware about it," he explained. The wildlife department has also not been using electric fencing for long. "So, we cannot rule out the possibility of a political conspiracy behind the incident. Direction has been given given to carry out a comprehensive probe," he said. He wondered how a protest march was organised by the UDF in Malappuram over the incident much before the locals came to know about it last night. He said two people were taken into custody by the police in this regard and their interrogation is going on. Meanwhile, police said a case has been registered into the incident under BNS 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).
