Riding a horse to protest against petrol price hike costs ‘powerman’ his job in Bihar

A publicity stunt to protest against the rise in petrol prices has cost a rural revenue franchisee his job in Bihar’s Sheohar district, about 125 km north of Patna, power officials said.

In a video that has turned viral, Abhijit Tiwari, a rural revenue franchisee, tasked with collection of energy bills from consumers, is seen riding a horse in rural Sheohar to collect payment against energy bills as petrol prices head north.

“Tiwari now says that he was instigated by a so-called local journalist to act in the manner he did and say on camera that he preferred riding a horse than using his motorbike for collection of energy bills as petrol had become dear,” said Shrawan Thakur, electrical executive engineer of Sheohar, North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL).