Meerut: A shocking incident occurred at Bhuni Toll Plaza in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, where Indian Army soldier Kapil Singh was brutally assaulted by toll plaza staff on August 17. The soldier, who was on his way to Delhi Airport to catch a flight back to Srinagar after completing his leave, requested the toll staff to allow him to pass quickly. This simple request led to a heated argument, following which the toll staff allegedly tied him to a pole and beat him with iron rods.

Kapil Singh’s father, Krishan Pal, expressed outrage and demanded strict action against the culprits, while his brother Pradeep claimed that around 10-12 people were involved in the assault. “They threw away his Army ID card, tied his hands to a pole, and started beating him mercilessly,” Krishan Pal told.

Police have so far arrested six toll plaza employees, and more arrests are expected based on video evidence. The FIR has been lodged under sections for attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, and robbery. According to Meerut SP Rural Rakesh Kumar Mishra, one or two more suspects seen in the video will be arrested soon.

The Indian Army strongly condemned the attack and assured that it will pursue the case to its logical conclusion. In a post on X, the Army stated that a formal protest has been lodged with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure accountability and prevent recurrence.

The NHAI has imposed a penalty of ₹20 lakh on the toll operating agency, Dharam Singh, and initiated the process of terminating its contract while also debarring the agency from future toll operations. Additionally, the local administration accepted four major demands of the protesters, including removal of the accused staff, adding more names to the FIR, declaring a 10-km toll-free stretch around the plaza, and displaying a list of toll-free villages.

The incident has sparked outrage among locals, who staged protests demanding justice for the soldier. Authorities have assured strict action against those involved.