Toll staff on Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway have to endure threats, abuse
The Hindu
Though there is a provision for the safety of the staff and legal options, and even medical care, none comes handy at the time of an untoward incident, said one of the staff members.
Following the murder of a toll booth employee of the Bengaluru Mysuru expressway, other employees have claimed that they face abuse and threats, and even sustain injuries during assault by uncouth commuters.
Though there is a provision for the safety of the staff and legal options, and even medical care, none comes handy at the time of an untoward incident, said one of the staff members.
A fortnight ago, Pavan Kumar, 26, in-charge of the Sheshagiri toll plaza, had suffered an injury on his left hand while trying to stop a goods vehicle whose driver tried to evade the fee. Since he was not been able to drive his two-wheeler, he asked his junior colleague Manjunath Krishnappa, a toll operator, to pick up and drop him.
Manjunath had joined work two months ago. He witnessed the attack on Sunday June 4 night. He told police that, after Pavan’s shift, the duo had beer and dinner at a highway dhaba before sitting down for a chat on a tank bund, a few yards away from the toll plaza.
Two men on a scooter confronted them. One of them flashed a light from the mobile phone on Manjunath’s face and asked: “Do you know who I am?”
While Manjunath claimed that he tried to reason with the motorist, the latter alleged that Pavan assaulted him.
The accused allegedly attacked him with a club on his neck. Pavan collapsed. Manjunath managed to save Pavan from another attack, but was kicked in the melee. The motorists then sped away on their scooter.
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