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New Delhi: Six toll plaza workers have been arrested after an Indian Army jawan was brutally assaulted at Bhuni Toll Plaza on the Meerut-Karnal highway. The victim has been identified as Kapil Kavad, who is posted with a Rashtriya Rifles unit in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to reports, Kapil, who was on his way to Delhi Airport to rejoin duty when the altercation occurred. He was travelling with his cousin when he got into an argument with toll workers over the long queue of vehicles.
Videos that surfaced online and were widely shared on social media show Kapil being pinned to a pole and beaten by several toll employees. The disturbing visuals immediately went viral. An investigation was launched that followed the arrest of six workers who were seen assaulting the soldier, as reported by News18. CCTV footage from the toll plaza is still being reviewed.
The situation worsened when local villagers, angered by the assault on the soldier, stormed the toll plaza. They vandalised property and this ultimately led to the escalation of tensions in the area.
Kapil was immediately rushed to a Military Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. The Indian Army has confirmed it is in touch with both the injured soldier and the local police officials. It is closely monitoring the situation.
In a notification issued by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), it has taken strict action against toll workers deployed at the Bhuni Toll Plaza. The NHAI has imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakhs on the toll collecting agency, M/s Dharam Singh. It has also initiated the process of terminating and debarring the toll collection firm from future participation in toll plaza bids.
This shocking assault comes weeks after another violent case involving a retired serviceman in Uttar Pradesh, where a 65-year-old retired Army jawan, Ramdayal Kushwaha, was beaten to death in Deoria following a land dispute.
Kushwaha objected to his neighbour Vijay Bind driving a car through his land, which led to the argument between them. Additional Superintendent of Police (North) Arvind Kumar Verma stated that Vijay, along with some companions assaulted Ramdayal before escaping the spot.
