The residents of the township of Sanabis in Bahrain have called upon the authorities concerned to protect them against acts of violence and arson in the area. The appeal follows the incident on July 7 when a subsidiary power station was set on fire in the township. This effectively cut power supply to 24 houses as well as to streetlights on the main roads, leaving people in the dark overnight.
The incident, involving damage to public property, has been roundly condemned by Bahraini organization as well. The Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society President Faisal Foulad was particularly critical. “On behalf of the residents of the area, who have been badly affected by this act, we condemn the destruction of the generator and the substation,” he said.
Sanabis, a developing area with shopping malls and excellent civic facilities, is a part of the Kingdom which has seen a number of untoward incidents. Recently, Molotov cocktails and material used to make firebombs were found in a deserted house there.
According to a statement by the Kingdom’s Water & Electricity Authority, the station was intentionally targeted by the arsonists. However, Civil Defence teams immediately went into action to put out the fire. Emergency teams of the electricity authority also worked hard to restore power as soon as possible which effectively meant installing a new substation at a cost of 17,000 dinars [US$ 45,200] since the first generator had been completely gutted.
