Meerut (UP), Aug 21 (PTI) Physical injuries will heal with time, but psychological scars will last a lifetime, Army jawan Kapil Panwar, who was brutally assaulted by toll plaza staff in Meerut last week, said on Thursday.
Expressing hurt over the ordeal he faced, Panwar stated that although he has no hesitation in facing enemies at the border, the treatment meted out to him in his own country has left a lasting scar.
"The injuries on the body will heal with time, but the wound to the mind will remain for life," said Panwar, currently admitted to the military hospital.
Narrating the August 17 incident at the Bhuni toll plaza, the jawan, hailing from Gotka village, said he was on his way to the Delhi airport for a flight to Srinagar, where he was due to report for duty. He asked the toll staff to allow his vehicle to pass quickly while showing his identity card. Instead of assisting him, the staff allegedly misbehaved and assaulted him with sticks and rods when he attempted to resist.
His father, uncle, and cousin, who were also in the car, were unable to help because the vehicle's lock jammed.
Kapil's parents have called for strict punishment for those involved, expressing their outrage that their son, who risks his life at the border, was attacked at home.
In the aftermath of the outrage, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has cracked down on the private toll operator M/s Dharam Singh.
Apart from imposing a penalty of Rs 20 lakh earlier this week, the authority has now seized the company's security deposit of Rs 3.70 crore and blacklisted it from operating toll plazas for a year.
NHAI Baghpat project director Narendra Singh said the decision was taken after an internal probe found gross negligence on the part of the operator. He added that the agency will soon select a new company to manage the toll plaza.
"Future operators will be instructed to deploy only such personnel who behave courteously and sensitively with commuters," Singh said.
Meanwhile, a 15-member team from NHAI's Baghpat division has assumed charge of the Bhuni toll plaza, and cash counters are being reopened.
Then police, meanwhile, informed that eight accused have been arrested so far in the case, including Ravi (19), a resident of Karnawal, who was picked up late Tuesday night. Searches are on for the remaining accused, and security arrangements at all toll plazas in the district have been tightened. Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Tada said toll employees have been instructed to maintain courteous behaviour with commuters.
On the night of the incident, Kapil and his companions Shivam and Sudhir were allegedly attacked by the toll staff with sticks and iron rods, the police said. A video of the assault later went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and protests.
The case was registered based on the complaint by Kapil's father under the provisions of attempt to murder, unlawful assembly and robbery of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The Indian Army's Central Command strongly condemned the incident and approached senior Uttar Pradesh Police authorities to ensure justice.
"The Indian Army remains committed to ensuring justice and will pursue the case to its logical conclusion," the Command said.