By Jameela Akhter
Baramulla: Scores of residents of Khanpora Baramulla on Sunday staged a strong protest demonstration against the installation of smart meters and demanded immediate rollback of the order.
The protestors comprising men, women, and children blocked traffic on the Baramulla-Uri highway for hours.
While sloganeering against the installation of smart meters, the protesting women told Kashmir Images that residents in the area mostly depend on stone quarries to earn livelihood which was banned as a result they were rendered jobless.
“We are poor people. Our men and children have been working in stone quarries but they were banned and sealed. We live from hand to mouth and can’t afford to pay tariffs as per smart meters,” said protesters.
The women protestors sought immediate rollback of the order to install smart meters in the area as they have been going through economic distress.
Later, local administrative officials besides Jammu and Kashmir Police rushed to the spot and gave assurance to the protesting people that their grievances will be taken up with the top officials, and the protest was called off.
