Tension flared up in Ujhan village under the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh when an Electricity Board team arrived to install smart power meters. The installation drive, conducted in the area falling under the Didwin Tikker post office and Hamirpur police station limits, quickly triggered strong opposition from local villagers. The altercation rapidly escalated into verbal abuse and physical assault, resulting in a woman allegedly slapping the officiating Junior Engineer (JE) of the power department.
Outbreak of Violence During Smart Meter Drive
According to official reports, Sunny Chandel, a Junior Engineer posted at the Lambloo section of the Electricity Board, was leading a team of departmental employees to execute smart meter installations in Ujhan village. During the operation, local residents including Sarwan, Prakaksho Devi, and several others assembled at the site and strongly objected to the installation process. The villagers engaged in a heated dispute with the team, allegedly misbehaving with the employees, hurling abusive language, and issuing open threats.
Junior Engineer Assaulted, Police Complaint Lodged
As the confrontation intensified, the situation turned violent. In his formal police complaint, JE Sunny Chandel alleged that Prakaksho Devi physically attacked him during the commotion and slapped him repeatedly. Following the incident, the shaken Electricity Board personnel approached the Hamirpur police station. Based on the Junior Engineer's written statement, the police registered a case against the accused individuals and launched a detailed investigation into the matter.
Court Ruling on Mandatory Smart Meters
The conflict over smart meter installations comes in the backdrop of a significant judicial precedent in Hamirpur. In an earlier ruling, a local court had clearly decreed that power consumers cannot be forcibly compelled to install smart electricity meters against their will. Furthermore, the court had ruled that the Electricity Board cannot disconnect the power supply of any consumer who refuses to opt for a smart meter installation. Despite this ruling, friction between departmental staff and residents continues to surface across various villages in the district.
