Tadepalligudem, July 24th: Several farmers raided an electrical sub-station at Neeladripuram under Tadepalligudem rural mandal limits and destroyed the electrical equipment and furniture late on Thursday night. The farmers were finding fault with the Transco authorities for failing to supply power continuously for seven hours. Nearly 100 farmers from Neeladripuram, Pattimpalem and Kommugudem villages participated in the attack on the sub station. They brought out 60 electric meters and office furniture, poured petrol and burnt them. The farmers also destroyed a computer kept in the next room and damaged office records.

They forced the lineman on duty, Mr. Suvarna Raju, to stop power supply going out from the sub-station. The lineman in turn, alerted the assistant divisional engineer, Mr. Appa Rao, who rushed to the sub-station and entered into a heated argument with the farmers. Mr. Appa Rao told the farmers that electricity is being supplied to the farmers and villages, based on directions from senior officials. Based on a complaint from the Transco authorities, the police booked a case against the farmers for attacking the sub-station.