Traffic was stalled for nearly two hours on National Highway 4 at Budigere Cross near Hoskote after an angry mob went berserk, setting a toll booth on fire following an assault on a motorist by the toll plaza employees on Sunday. The collection of toll on the busy national highway was also suspended for some time.
The mob, mostly from the nearby villages, attacked the toll plaza employees after Manjunath (20), a resident of Katamnallur, was on his way to Sulibele with his family that has been issued a local resident’s pass by the toll authorities. A bitter altercation ensued between Manjunath’s family and the toll plaza employees as the family was not carrying the pass that allows them free passage on the road daily. According a source, Manjunath slapped one of the toll employees for using foul language during the tiff, which resulted in fisticuffs between the two sides. A group of toll plaza employees then dragged Manjunath into one of the booths and assaulted him with a wooden plank. A profusely bleeding Manjunath, who suffered a severe injury on his arms, is now being treated at Manipal Hospital in the city.
The news of the assault triggered anger among the village residents of the area, who rushed to the plaza and vandalised it. Eleven toll collection booths were damaged when stones were pelted at them, and one of them was set on fire, and soon all the employees of the toll plaza fled from the spot, fearing for their life.
The assault on the youth and the riots have been captured by the CCTV cameras at the toll plaza. We are analysing the footage to identify the culprits.
B. RameshBengaluru Rural Superintendent
of Police
