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Two toll plaza employees tragically lost their lives in Madhya Pradesh after falling into a well while attempting to escape an attack by masked gunmen, reportedly stemming from a toll tax dispute. The bodies of Srinivas Parihar from Agra and Shivaji Kandele from Nagpur were recovered from the well.
The incident occurred around 10 pm on Tuesday at the Dagrai toll plaza on National Highway-44. CCTV footage captured masked assailants on motorcycles near the toll booths, forcibly entering and causing havoc by damaging property and assaulting staff.
Fearing for their safety, the staff fled into a nearby field as the assailants fired shots into the air. Tragically, Parihar and Kandele fell into an uncovered well during their escape attempt, resulting in their drowning.
The toll plaza’s management transition on April 1, with a new contractor taking over, allegedly triggered a dispute. Previous arrangements allowed certain local vehicles to bypass toll payments, but the new contractor refused to continue this practice, leading to tensions.
Authorities have initiated an investigation, and a case has been registered against unidentified individuals. Toll taxes, crucial for infrastructure repair and maintenance, vary based on vehicle size and are essential for funding these projects.
