Toll staffers thrash baraatis over ‘payment row’, 1 critical

Meerut: Four persons sustained injuries when a wedding party was allegedly attacked by Bhuni toll plaza employees after the groom's relatives and friends got into an altercation with them over payment on the Meerut-Karnal highway, police said on Monday. Among the injured, Mohd Sadach is in critical condition and undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
The wedding party was returning from Baghpat's Mughalpura to Teharko village in Meerut's Sardhana region on Sunday night. The victims claimed the toll employees not only assaulted them but also misbehaved with women and damaged their vehicle.
Meerut (rural) SP Rakesh Kumar Mishra said, "A written complaint was submitted by the victims on Monday, and an FIR has been lodged against the toll staff." Toll security guard Sonu Kumar filed a counter-complaint, alleging the revellers tried to force their way through the gate without paying and turned violent. "They tried to break the barrier and caused a ruckus," he said.
Both FIRs have been filed against unidentified persons under BNS Sections 191 (rioting) and 352 (intentional intent to provoke breach of peace). No arrests have been made yet, Saroorpur SHO Ajay Shukla said. "We are reviewing CCTV footage. Allegations of molestation and the use of sharp weapons appear unfounded at this stage. Further investigation is ongoing," he added