FIR AGAINST VANDALISM AT KULHARIA TOLL PLAZA

FIR AGAINST VANDALISM AT KULHARIA TOLL PLAZA

1-AUG-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------A shocking incident of high-handedness and intimidation occurred late Thursday night at the Kulhariya Toll Plaza, located within the Koilwar police station area of ​​Bhojpur district. A dispute that began over passing vehicles without paying the toll tax quickly escalated into violence. It is alleged that a group of about a dozen individuals stormed the toll plaza, engaged in extensive vandalism, threatened the staff with death, and then fled the scene. The incident took place around midnight on July 30.

According to the toll management, an argument initially broke out between a toll guard and some individuals. Subsequently, a large crowd arrived at the site and damaged various properties, including office windowpanes, lamp posts, and flower pots. The management claims that a police vehicle was present at the scene during the incident, yet the miscreants continued their rampage undeterred.

Furthermore, before leaving, the accused warned that their vehicles must be allowed to pass without paying the toll in the future; otherwise, assaults on toll staff and acts of vandalism would continue.

Following the incident, the toll management lodged an FIR at the Koilwar police station. The police have deployed additional security forces at the toll plaza and have begun examining CCTV footage to identify the accused.

Traffic DSP (Sadar) Manoj Kumar Sudhanshu stated that those who take the law into their own hands will not be spared at any cost. Strict legal action will be taken against individuals who obstruct toll operations or engage in such acts of intimidation. Meanwhile, Koilwar SHO Narottam Das has deployed a patrol team to the location and assigned an investigation team to the case following the complaint.

It is reported that similar incidents have occurred at the Kulhariya Toll Plaza in the past. Consequently, concerns regarding the safety of toll staff and the maintenance of law and order have once again been raised. The question remains: who exactly is behind this intimidation?