Mangaluru : A trader at Bellare in Sullia taluk, who allegedly abused Minister for Power D.K. Shivakumar over telephone as he was fed-up with the frequent power cuts, was arrested by the police.

Superintendent of Police S.D. Sharanappa gave the name of the arrested trader as Sai Giridhar Rai, former president of the Bellare Traders Association.

Mr. Sharanappa said that besides abusing the Minister over telephone, the trader abused officials of Mangalore Electricity Supply Company.

At KERC hearing in Mangaluru, MESCOM Managing Director Chikkananjappa admitted that Sullia taluk was affected by frequent power cuts because of constraints on the infrastructure front. MESCOM is setting up a 110 kV power sub-station for the taluk at Madavu to address the woes of consumers. Meanwhile, the Sullia police, who went in search of Mr. Rai, reportedly entered his house by opening the roof-tiles after he refused to open the door.

Mr. Rai was produced before a magistrate and was enlarged on bail on Monday.