Kathua/Jammu, Oct 15: In Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, police on Tuesday used a minor cane charge to disperse a crowd protesting against the installation of smart meters. The protest, organized under the banner of the Jan Jagran Manch, saw locals, including women, gathering in Kathua town to voice their opposition by blocking the road, and disrupting the flow of traffic, officials reported.
To control the situation and ensure the smooth movement of vehicles, police intervened and used minimal force to disperse the demonstrators. During the operation, five individuals were detained for their involvement in the protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The protesters argued that the installation of smart meters would lead to increased electricity bills and an added financial burden on local residents. Authorities, however, emphasized that the deployment of smart meters is part of an effort to modernize and regulate electricity distribution across the region for better efficiency and transparency.
Police officials assured that the cane charge was a minimal measure taken to maintain law and order, stressing that any disruptions to public services would be addressed swiftly.