Bhubaneswar, Dec. 29 -- Tension flared outside the Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) office in Bhubaneswar as the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Monday staged a protest, opposing the issuance of additional security deposit demand notices and the rollout of smart electricity meters.

The demonstration, led by OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das, briefly escalated into a tense situation after authorities locked the main gate of the power utility's office to prevent the protesters from entering the premises.

Sources reported that police and administrative officials were deployed to manage the situation as Congress workers attempted to push past the gate, leading to moments of jostling and commotion at the sit...