Millions of rupees worth of brace plates and other equipment have been stolen from high-tension power lines operated by the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) in Jamshoro, Matiari, and Dadu, causing hours-long power outages in the affected areas. The power supply was restored only after extensive repair work.

Separate FIRs have been registered at the Khanoot and Coal Mine police stations by NTDC Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Rizwan Abbasi, detailing thefts from several transmission towers.

Details of the Thefts
In the complaint filed at Khanoot police station, it was reported that 168 brace plates, 336 nut bolts, and three conductors were stolen from the Dadu circuit line near Jamshoro.

Similarly, the FIR at Coal Mine police station revealed the theft of 800 brace plates and 2,400 nut bolts from eight towers of a 500-kV power line under construction between tower numbers 53 and 59 on the Jamshoro-Matiari route.

The stolen equipment is valued between Rs. 1.5 million and Rs. 2 million, according to NTDC officials.

Suspects Identified, No Arrests Made
Six suspects have been nominated in one of the cases, including Sabir Khoso, Akbar Khoso, Pappu Khaskhaili, Jhandu Khan Khoso, Feroz Khoso, and Rozo Khan Khoso. However, no arrests have been made so far.

Recurring Thefts a Growing Concern
This incident is part of a broader issue, as over 30 similar cases of brace plate theft have been registered by NTDC SDOs at various police stations in Jamshoro. Despite the deployment of private security personnel, thefts from NTDC towers have become alarmingly frequent, disrupting power supply and burdening the national grid with repair costs.

Authorities have yet to devise an effective strategy to curb these recurring thefts, which not only cause financial losses but also lead to prolonged power outages, affecting residents and businesses in the region.

The NTDC has called for stronger measures to protect critical infrastructure and prevent further incidents.