Bilaspur Villagers Protest Smart Meters, Power Disconnection at Pradhan’s Home

Residents of Kapahra panchayat in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, staged a protest against the installation of smart meters and the disconnection of the electricity meter at the house of panchayat pradhan Vinay Kumar Sharma. The protest was also linked to the demand that electricity poles and wires be removed from the pradhan’s private land.

Vinay Kumar Sharma, along with all panchayat representatives and villagers, held a three-hour symbolic sit-in outside the electricity department office to express their anger. Hundreds of villagers took part in the protest.

The protesters became more angry when they reached the department office and found that the Executive Engineer was not present. They said they would not leave the office until they were able to speak to the Executive Engineer.

The panchayat pradhan warned that if proper action was not taken against the employees who disconnected the meter at his house, the protest would be intensified. He said the administration and the department would be responsible for any such escalation.

Vinay Kumar Sharma had earlier alleged that the electricity connection at his house was cut because he had opposed the installation of smart meters in the panchayat. He had given the administration and the department a 24-hour ultimatum and demanded that the electricity poles and wires be removed from his private land.

The pradhan had also submitted separate memoranda to the SDM Ghumarwin, Ghumarwin police station and the Executive Engineer of the Electrical Division on Saturday. In these memoranda, he raised the issue of the smart meter installation and the action taken against his family.

Sharma said that a resolution opposing the installation of smart meters had been passed unanimously in the gram sabha on 10 August 2026. On the basis of this resolution, a public interest litigation has also been filed in the High Court.

The pradhan alleged that the department took action against his family after the resolution was passed. According to him, on 14 October, the department issued a 24-hour notice concerning the electricity meter installed in the name of his late father.

Sharma alleged that instead of issuing notices to other consumers in the panchayat, the department issued a notice only to his family. He said that on 15 October, he was at District Hospital Hamirpur with his family in connection with his son’s operation.

At that time, his 70-year-old mother was alone at home. He alleged that some electricity department employees reached the house during this period and removed the meter. The employees then took the meter away, according to the allegation.

The pradhan has demanded an investigation into the matter and action against the employees concerned. He has also repeated his demand that the electricity poles and wires be removed from his private land.

Aur panchayat pradhan Deshraj was also present during the protest. The protesters maintained that the department must address their concerns and that the issue would not end until the Executive Engineer spoke to them.