On Friday, villagers in the Akola area of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, protested against the installation of smart meters by dismantling them and dumping them at a local electricity department substation. This protest lasted for three hours and was part of a larger movement against smart meters, which also saw demonstrations in Aligarh, Firozabad, and Hathras. Protestors, including Rajveer Lawania (district president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union), demanded that traditional meters remain in use. Kaptan Singh Chahar, the state vice-president of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, criticized the installation of smart meters, claiming they are being imposed against consumer wishes and called for the energy minister, AK Sharma, to reconsider the decision. The protests saw significant participation from women, particularly in Firozabad, where they gathered to voice their opposition. The Rashtriya Lok Dal pledged support for the protests and warned against any legal action taken against demonstrators dismantling the smart meters.