Alleging severe harassment over electricity bills, a large number of consumers staged a protest outside the Electricity Department office in Sonamura on Monday, demanding an immediate resolution to long-pending billing disputes and alleged administrative negligence.

According to local sources, residents have been facing various issues related to inflated electricity bills, outstanding dues, and errors in billing for a long time. In protest against the lack of action, affected consumers gathered at the Sonamura Electricity Department office on Monday morning to seek redressal of their grievances.

However, tensions escalated after the officer in charge of the office reportedly failed to arrive even after 12 noon, leaving consumers waiting for hours without any response. Angry over the absence of the responsible official and what they described as continued administrative apathy, the protesters demonstrated outside the office.

As the situation intensified, the agitating consumers blocked the main road in front of the electricity office, disrupting vehicular movement and causing a major traffic congestion in the area.

On receiving information, police and local administrative officials rushed to the spot and held discussions with the protesters. Following assurances that their grievances would be addressed, the demonstrators agreed to withdraw the road blockade, restoring normal traffic movement.

The protesting consumers, however, warned that if the Electricity Department fails to take effective measures to resolve the alleged billing irregularities and harassment, they will launch a larger agitation in the coming days.