The toll collection, which had come to a halt at Brahmarakutlu near B. C. Road on Saturday following vandalism by unruly mob, resumed on Sunday evening. The police are yet to take action against Congress councillor of Bantwal Town Municipal council Mohammed Shareef and his associates, who have been accused of attacking the toll booths.
Mr. Shareef is one among those against whom the police have booked a case.
A group of 30 persons attacked five toll booth personnel and damaged two toll booths at the Brahmarakutlu around noon on Saturday. The group vandalised the booths a few minutes after Mr. Shareef had a verbal duel with the toll booth personnel, who had stopped vehicle his relative for collecting toll. While the toll manager said the group was led by Mr. Shareef, the latter however denied of his role in the attack.
Damaged equipmentGopalakrishna Melanta, the contractor collecting the toll, said the unruly mob have damaged boom barriers, close circuit cameras, computers, servers and other equipment. The mob has also taken away Rs. 1 lakh cash. The loss caused by the unruly group was about Rs. 3 lakh. Mr. Melanta said they were replacing the damaged equipment and servers. Police have assured of providing District Armed Reserve personnel for security. Mr. Melata said of the five injured toll booth personnel two were still in the Government Wenlock Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Bantwal Town Police are searching for Mr. Shareef, his five associates and other persons allegedly involved in the attack. Superintendent of Police S.D. Sharanappa said three of them are accused in criminal cases that are pending trial. “We are keeping a track of their movement,” Mr. Sharanappa told The Hindu .
The attacking group has been also booked for abuse of Deputy Superintendent of Police Rashmi Paradi when she came to the spot soon after vandalism. The attackers reportedly abused in explicit language when she was viewing the CCTV footage.
