A security guard at the toll plaza was injured when he was physically assaulted, allegedly, by a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and his friends at Sasthan coming under the Kota police station limits in Udupi district on Sunday.
However, the BJP leader has alleged that the security guard and toll plaza workers pushed him and others, and also threatened them.
According to a complaint lodged at the Kota police, Abdul Rehman, 58, who worked as a security guard at the toll plaza, stopped a car moving in a track meant for ambulances at the plaza at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
But as he did so, four persons from the car, including the local BJP leader Vittal Poojary, got down and allegedly assaulted him.
At that point, a person came on a motorcycle and gave Mr. Poojary a helmet.
Mr. Poojary allegedly kicked him (Mr. Rehman) and hit him with the helmet and abused him.
A case had been registered based on Mr. Rehman’s complaint. Mr. Rehman was admitted to the District Government Hospital here on Sunday.
Counter complaint
In a counter complaint, Mr. Poojary said that he was going with his friends in a car from Sasthan to Jannady.
Only two gates were open at the toll plaza. When he tried to enter the Western gate, Mr. Rehman signalled for the car to stop.
Since he had to go urgently, he got down to meet the plaza in-charge to allow the car to pass. But the incharge did not respond.
Hence when he returned to the car and started it, Mr. Rehman and the plaza staff allegedly stopped him, and pushed him and others who had got down from the car and threatened them.
A case had been registered based on Mr. Poojary’s complaint and investigation is on, the police added.
