Karnal toll plaza vandalised after staff ‘thrash’ trucker
KARNAL: As many as six people were reportedly injured in a clash that broke out between locals, truck union members and Bastara toll plaza staff in Karnal after a truck driver was allegedly thrashed by the latter on seeking exemption from paying toll tax.
The agitators, 60 of whom have been booked, resorted to vandalising the toll booths and manhandling the staff.
The plaza employees, as a result, vacated their booths, giving free access to the commuters for an hour.
As per information, the clash took place around 6am on Monday after the toll employees allegedly thrashed a truck driver, identified as Vijay Kumar of Gharaunda, who was insisting on the toll-tax exemption for him as he lived in the 10-km radius of the plaza. The toll relaxation has already been ended by the private toll-collecting company – Soma Isolux.
The driver, it was learnt, later called members of truck unions and residents of Gharaunda, who vandalised the toll plaza.
“When I sought the exemption, the security guards present there misbehaved with me and beat me up. They even threatened to kill me and fired several rounds in air,” alleged truck driver Vijay.
When contacted, Karnal superintendent of police Surender Bhoria said, “We have received a complaint from the plaza employees and an FIR has been registered.”
“We are also scanning the CCTV footage to identify the people involved in the vandalism,” he added.
The SP said they have also recovered live cartridges from a car.
When asked about the solution to the issue, where residents of about 50 villages are asking to continue the facility of free access from the toll plaza, Karnal deputy commissioner Aditya Dahiya said, “We have already taken up the matter with the toll company, but it refused to continue this facility in future. We have now written to the NHAI, but are yet to get any response.”
It is pertinent to mention here that soon after the toll plaza was shifted to Bastara from Butana in December 2014, the villagers began their protests, demanding a complete waiver.
In February 2015, the toll company had agreed to give special concession to the residents of more than 50 villages of Gharaunda block at this particular toll barrier.
But the officials of the toll company had lately been alleging that beneficiaries provided duplicate identity cards to their relatives residing in other districts.
Earlier this month, the tollcollecting company had also installed a notice asking the residents of nearby villages to get a monthly pass of ₹150 from the plaza as their identity cards were no more valid to get them a free access.
This triggered resentment among the residents who also got support from local politicians of ruling and opposition parties.
Meanwhile, plaza’s deputy general manager Sanjeev Mathur said, “We have already informed them that they cannot avail a free access and should get a monthly pass made.”
He, however, refuted the allegations that the toll employees thrashed anyone and said that local politicians were also misleading people.
Karnal SP said Krishan Kumar, Rajbir Singh, Mahender, Mohit, Sultan and Jaswant of Kaimla village and Mohan Sharma of Gharaunda were among those booked under Sections 147, 149, 323, 506, 395 and 427 of the IPC and Section 8B of the National Highway Act.
60 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BOOKED; SIX HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES IN A CLASH THAT BROKE OUT AFTER A TRUCK DRIVER SOUGHT FREE ACCESS AT PLAZA