On Sunday, a group of toll plaza workers in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district allegedly beat up and viciously attacked a serving Army jawan at the Bhuni toll plaza. A video of the incident went viral on social media, causing a lot of anger. Police said on Monday that six persons have been arrested in connection with the investigation.
Kapil, the victim, was 24 years old and was on his way to Delhi with his cousin to board a flight to his duty post in Srinagar. Police said the fight started when Kapil, worried about missing his trip, told the workers at the toll plaza to hurry up the traffic that was moving slowly. Things immediately got out of hand and turned violent.
Rakesh Kumar Mishra, the Superintendent of Police (Rural), said that the jawan got into a heated debate with the personnel initially, and then it went physical. A video taken by a bystander shows numerous toll workers surrounding the soldier, beating him with clubs, and at one point, pinning him to a pole while pulling his hands back. The jawan’s cousin was also said to have been hurt during the fight.
The police filed a case at the Sarurpur police station after the soldier’s family made a complaint. “Kapil is a soldier in the Indian Army. SP Mishra claimed, “He was going back to work when an argument broke out and the toll booth staff attacked him.” “Six people were arrested based on CCTV footage and video, and work is being done to find the others.”
Many people are outraged by the attack on a serving member of the armed forces, and the incident has sparked a strong public backlash. People from Kapil’s hamlet also reportedly raced to the toll plaza to protest, calling for urgent action against the people who did it.
The investigation is still going on, and the police have promised that everyone involved will be punished.