An Army jawan was allegedly assaulted by toll plaza employees in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district on Sunday. The police has arrested six people, while the NHAI has imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh and initiated the process to cancel the license of the toll operator. The incident has also attracted condemnation from the Indian Army.
The officer, identified as Kapil, was returning for duty after a leave. A video of the horrific incident has surfaced on social media, with several users expressing disbelief and anger.
Kapil, a soldier from Gotka village, is posted in Srinagar.
The altercation broke out when he asked the toll staff to clear the way faster after being caught in a long queue. The argument escalated, and Kapil was beaten up by toll plaza employees, officials told PTI.
A complaint was filed on the basis of the CCTV footage by the soldier's family. The police registered a case and arrested six employees. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rakesh Kumar Mishra said efforts are on to identify and nab others involved.
Taking cognisance of the incident, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday imposed a penalty of Rs 20 lakh on the toll collection agency, for what it termed a "grave breach of contract".
The authority also initiated proceedings to terminate the agency's contract and debar it from future bids.
"NHAI strongly condemns such behaviour by toll plaza staff and is committed to ensuring safe and seamless travel on national highways," it said in a statement.
The Indian Army's Central Command also had a sharp reaction.
In a post on X, it said: "The Army strongly condemns such incident against a serving soldier. Highest authorities of Uttar Pradesh Police have been approached to bring the guilty to book."
The Army added that an FIR had been filed under attempt to murder, unlawful assembly and robbery provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and that the Army had also lodged a protest with NHAI.
"The Indian Army remains committed to ensure justice and will pursue the case to its logical conclusion," the Central Command said.
The officer, identified as Kapil, was returning for duty after a leave. A video of the horrific incident has surfaced on social media, with several users expressing disbelief and anger.
Kapil, a soldier from Gotka village, is posted in Srinagar.
The altercation broke out when he asked the toll staff to clear the way faster after being caught in a long queue. The argument escalated, and Kapil was beaten up by toll plaza employees, officials told PTI.
A complaint was filed on the basis of the CCTV footage by the soldier's family. The police registered a case and arrested six employees. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rakesh Kumar Mishra said efforts are on to identify and nab others involved.
Taking cognisance of the incident, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday imposed a penalty of Rs 20 lakh on the toll collection agency, for what it termed a "grave breach of contract".
The authority also initiated proceedings to terminate the agency's contract and debar it from future bids.
"NHAI strongly condemns such behaviour by toll plaza staff and is committed to ensuring safe and seamless travel on national highways," it said in a statement.
The Indian Army's Central Command also had a sharp reaction.
In a post on X, it said: "The Army strongly condemns such incident against a serving soldier. Highest authorities of Uttar Pradesh Police have been approached to bring the guilty to book."
The Army added that an FIR had been filed under attempt to murder, unlawful assembly and robbery provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and that the Army had also lodged a protest with NHAI.
"The Indian Army remains committed to ensure justice and will pursue the case to its logical conclusion," the Central Command said.
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