Toll employees thrashed, threatened with a gun, knocked down by car for asking cop to show ID in Gujarat
Police have booked R A Bhojani, the in-charge of Kodinar police station, on charges of attempt to murder
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According to the FIR, the argument was over Bhojani being asked to show his identification card. (File Photo)The in-charge of Gujarat’s Kodinar police station and at least 20 others were booked Sunday for allegedly attempting to murder two toll plaza employees on National Highway 8D after a dispute over paying toll tax. The alleged incident took place in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district.
According to the FIR registered at Vanthali police station, the police inspector, R A Bhojani, and another person travelling with him had an argument with Bhavesh Tatamiya, a staff member at Gadoi toll plaza’s collection cabin, around 2.30 pm on Sunday. According to the FIR, the argument was over Bhojani being asked to show his identification card.
During the argument, the two men allegedly dragged Tatamiya out of the cabin and slapped him.
The toll plaza supervisor, Rajesh Chhaiya (40), and other staff members restrained the two and dialled Vanthali police station. Chhaiya, Tatamiya, Bhojani and his co-passenger were then taken to the Vanthali police station.
According to the FIR, Chhaiya and Bhojani ostensibly sorted out the matter at the police station.
However, Bhojani and almost 20 others intercepted Chhaiya and Tatamiya’s vehicle around 4.30 pm, on the outskirts of Vanthali town, and assaulted the two men.
According to Chhaiya, Bhojani and two others first got down from their vehicle and allegedly flashed their pistols. As per the FIR, the assailants also rammed the car of the toll plaza employees, knocking Chhaiya and Tatamiya down. It is alleged that they beat the men with sticks and steel pipes before snatching Chahaiya’s mobile and fleeing.
The two injured men were rushed to a hospital in Vanthali and referred to a private hospital in Junagadh city later.
Police said Chhaiya suffered fractures in his left leg, his right wrist and left elbow, while Tatamiya suffered a cut on his left cheek.
“Primary investigation has revealed that Bhojani was driving in a private vehicle from Gir Somnath to Junagadh when the incident took place,” Junagadh Superintendent of Police Harshad Mehta told The Indian Express, adding that a case under the IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) and other provisions have been registered against Bhojani and “20 to 22 unidentified persons”.
The SP said that Keshod sub-division deputy superintendent of police B C Thakkar has been put in charge of the case.
“Our teams are analysing CCTV footage along the highway to get leads but there has been no breakthrough so far,” said Mehta.
Gir Somnath district police SP Manoharsinh Jadeja said Bhojani “proceeded on leave on Saturday evening and was to report back on duty at 11 am on Monday”, but did not. He said Bhojani was not on duty when the alleged incident took place.
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