Toll plaza employees thrash soldier after tying him to pole in UP’s Meerut
Kapil Singh, a Rajput Regiment soldier, got into an argument with the Bhuni Toll Plaza employees when he requested them to allow him to pass quickly as he had to catch a flight
A group of toll plaza employees tied a 26-year-old Army soldier on his way to rejoin duty in Srinagar after a leave during the Kanwar Yatra to a pole and kicked, punched, and hit him with sticks in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut. A video of the assault, showing 8–10 men surrounding Kapil Singh and beating him, went viral.

Singh, a Rajput Regiment soldier from Gotka village, got into an argument with the Bhuni Toll Plaza employees when he requested them to allow him to pass quickly as he had to catch a 5am flight from Delhi to Srinagar on Monday. He said he also showed them his ID.
Bittu, the toll plaza’s security in charge, allegedly started manhandling Singh, who suffered injuries to his nose. When Singh stepped out of his car, toll workers tied him to a pole and beat him. His brother, Devendra, who tried to save him, was also assaulted.
A group of people from Gotka rushed to the spot and staged a protest at the toll plaza, demanding the immediate removal of the staff who assaulted Singh. The uproar continued until around 9:30pm when police rushed to the scene and managed to pacify the crowd.
Police superintendent Rakesh Kumar Mishra said four toll employees who assaulted the soldier and his brother have been arrested. “Two police teams have been formed, and efforts are on to nab the remaining accused.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORDeepak LavaniaDeepak Lavania is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, reporting on the diverse and fast-evolving landscape of Western Uttar Pradesh. Currently based in Meerut, he has a decade of experience in journalism and has covered most major beats, from civic issues to crime, politics, and defence. Previously, he was associated with The Times of India, where he covered a wide range of significant stories across the region. His reports on the degradation of the ecologically sensitive Yamuna ravines near the Taj Mahal were taken into cognisance by the National Green Tribunal, which directed the government to demarcate the Yamuna floodplains. Rooted in his hometown of Taj City of Agra, Deepak takes immense pride in the rich history, heritage, and traditions of Braj culture. Beyond journalism, he is passionate about long-distance running, strength training, and mountaineering. A certified mountaineer and recipient of the prestigious Silver Ice Axe Badge from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, he embraces challenges both in the mountains and on the road, while finding a sense of calm and clarity through swimming, which he considers a form of meditation.Read More

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