Ludhiana, Dec. 11 -- In a fresh escalation of their agitation against the installation of chip-based smart meters, several farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Union (Punjab) on Wednesday removed the meters from several villages in Ludhiana district and deposited them at nearby power stations. The move follows the earlier announcement by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which on December 5 enforced a two-hour rail blockade across the state.

According to union leaders, the meters scheduled to be removed on December 9 and 10 as per their earlier call were uprooted in Sasrali, Boothgarh, Prem Colony, Gautam Colony and several other adjoining areas. The collected chip-enabled smart meters were later deposited at the Gaunsgarh and...