6 Mathura cops loot NH2 toll plaza staff of Rs 40,000

AGRA: Agra-Delhi NH-2 Toll plaza authorities have filed a complaint against six police personnel of Mathura, including circle officer Refinery, for allegedly manhandling their staff at Mahuvan toll plaza and looting cash to the tune of Rs 40,000 from them.According to assistant manager of the plaza OP Yadav, six police personnel, including the CO, Refinery, Nitin Singh, came to the toll on the intervening night of 22 and 23 and "looted" the cash after assaulting the staff. He said CCTV footage of the entire incident has been submitted along with the complaint.According to Yadav, the entire incident occurred between 11:45pm to 1am. He said the cops arrived at the toll plaza in a Bolero jeep belonging to CO and entered lane 13 meant for fast tag vehicles. He said since the vehicle did not have a fast lane tag, the barrier went down and blocked the vehicle's exit.He alleged that subsequently the CO and other cops came out of the vehicle and started threatening the staff. An argument ensued following which the cops manhandled the staff there, he said.He also accused the cops of opening the barriers of two adjacent lanes and allowing vehicles to pass without payment of toll for over two hours. He claimed that the CO also called for additional force.When contacted, CO Refinery, Nitin Singh, denied these allegations and said that he was on patrolling duty when three people approached him and complained that the toll staff was charging extra money. He said he immediately reached there with his driver and gunman to make inquiries.He said that instead of answering his questions, the toll staff misbehaved with him and brought down the lane barrier, which hit his hand.He said he had earlier also received similar complaints of overcharging against toll plaza staff. He claimed that the toll plaza staff also hurled stones at them."We have already registered a case against 25 people including the manager on duty, Vinay Yadav and other unknown persons under various sections 147 (riots), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 336 (endangering life of others), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC," he said, adding that now they were purposely making allegations against the police.However, CCTV footage accessed by TOI clearly show the police personnel beating the toll staff with a stick and taking out cash from the box.Talking to TOI, SP city, Shrawan Kumar Singh said that a complaint had been received and the matter is being investigated. He said that he would be in a better position to comment on the incident after seeing the video footage.