Toll Plaza Scuffle in Sonbhadra: Lawyer's Family Assaulted Over FASTag Malfunction
A violent scuffle erupted at the Lodhi toll plaza on the Robertsganj–Chopan road in Sonbhadra district on Sunday afternoon, where toll collection staff allegedly assaulted the family members of a woman lawyer. The incident, which has sparked outrage, occurred due to a technical glitch involving a vehicle's FASTag system, leading to a heated confrontation and physical attack.
Police Action and FIR Lodged
On Monday, Sonbhadra's City Officer, Randheer Mishra, confirmed that based on a complaint filed by lawyer Aarti Pandey of Robertsganj, the police have registered an FIR under multiple sections of the law, including sections 191(2), 109(1), 115(2), 352, 351(3), and 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the assault. The accused have been identified as Ramji Tiwari from Hamirpur and Sarvesh Yadav from Ambedkar Nagar. Police authorities have stated that further investigation is actively underway to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the attack.
Incident Details and Sequence of Events
The altercation began when the toll plaza's automated machine failed to read the number plate and FASTag of a vehicle, causing a significant traffic backlog. Among the vehicles stuck in the queue was the car carrying lawyer Aarti Pandey and her family members, who were en route to Chopan. As the delay persisted for several minutes without any movement in their lane, some of Pandey's family members approached the toll counter to inquire about the reason for the holdup.
Instead of providing a satisfactory explanation, it is alleged that the toll booth staff and their colleagues engaged in misbehavior and verbal abuse towards the family. This quickly escalated into a heated exchange of words. Subsequently, the situation turned violent when the toll plaza staff physically assaulted the lawyer's family members. During the incident, Aarti Pandey captured the entire episode on her mobile phone, documenting the altercation. Witnessing the assault, passengers from other vehicles came forward to support the family, adding to the commotion at the scene.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Investigation
This incident highlights growing concerns over toll plaza management and staff behavior, particularly in situations involving technical failures. The use of FASTag, intended to streamline toll collection, has sometimes led to such disputes when systems malfunction. Authorities are now focusing on a thorough investigation to ensure all perpetrators are held accountable and to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The case remains under active scrutiny as police work to gather more evidence and statements from witnesses.
