Reporter held hostage, beaten up for making video of power theft

Web Desk: A reporter from a private Sindhi TV channel was held captive and physically abused by villagers while covering an electricity theft story in Mohammad Thaheem village, Pannu Aqil taluka, on Wednesday.

According to Dawn the residents detained reporter Rustam Indhar, tied him with a rope, subjected him to torture, and publicly humiliated him for filming the power theft incident in the village.

After approximately two hours, fellow journalists rescued Rustam Indhar upon learning of his detention. They then took him to Taluka Hospital where he was provided treatment.

Read more: LESCO officer facing death threats for action against former MNA for power theft

Earlier this month, the government initiated a stringent crackdown on electricity theft, a practice that federal ministers claim has resulted in collective losses amounting to hundreds of billions of rupees and increased utility bills for the average citizen.