New Delhi, March 2: Thrashing workers at toll plaza has become a regular phenomenon now and has been reported from all over the country, mainly in the northern areas. Violent incidents have surfaced in the recent past showing the arrogant behaviour of politiciabs and how they misuse power. Incidences like these reinforce that many such services remain easy bait for 'VIP' bullying despite public anger and protests.

Taking into account a recent incident, Kanpur Dehat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rahuldev Agnihotri and his son thrashed a toll plaza employee in Uttar Pradesh's Akbarpur city on February 28. The incident took place after Agnihotri was trying to cross the toll without paying the toll money. The toll plaza employee did not let their vehicle pass through, triggering the fight. According to a CCTV footage, it can be seen that Agnihotri and his son forcefully entering the plaza and slapping the employee.

BJP MLA Jeetmal Khant caught on camera thrashing toll plaza worker in Rajasthan

Former State Minister & BJP MLA Jeetmal Khant on Saturday was caught on camera slapping a toll plaza employee in Banswada city of Rajasthan. In a video that went viral, Khant (In green) went inside the toll cabin where he hit the toll employee for collecting toll from his supporters.

Kanpur Dehat BJP President Rahuldev Agnihotri & his son thrashed a toll plaza employee in Akbarpur

This isn't the first time a BJP member has been accused of misbehaving with toll plaza staff. In another similar incident, that took place few months ago, Vijay Charel, husband of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sangeeta Charel, was caught thrashing a toll plaza employee in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh. It must be noted that Vijay is the husband of Sangeeta Charel, the BJP MLA from Sailana constituency.

In a video posted by ANI, Vijay Charel can be seen forcefully entering into the plaza along with his aides and slapping the unsuspecting employee. The incident happened after he was trying to cross the toll without paying. As per reports,Vijay Choral has denied fighting with the toll plaza employee.

On February 14, son of a BJP legislator Pooran Prakash allegedly attacked an employee at the toll plaza in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura area. The incident took place after a boom barrier fell on their car when it was trying to zoom through the toll on the VIP lane. As per reports, the SUV sped after another car that had just been cleared to pass.

The opposition party Congress is also not far behind in such cases and there are incidents of their politicians being quite unruly. In the last month, local Congress leader Hoshiyar Yadav who is also the former Gurgaon block committee chairman was booked on charges of thrashing an operator at Kherki Daula toll plaza on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. The incident was captured on CCTV cameras.

Congress leader caught on camera:

(Video Credit: Hindustan Times)

As per reports, when the toll plaza staffer asked for  identity card and vehicle permit, the men in the SUV got angry and started abusing and thrashing the employee through a window. Reports by HT state that Yadav and his supporters barged into the toll booth and started beating the plaza employee. The attackers dragged him out of the toll booth and punched him indiscriminately. Reports inform that the Congress leader was also accused of ransacking several toll booths in the past.

In CCTV footage, two employees are seen bringing down the barrier as the car was trying to pass without paying. The gruesome incident that was captured in security cameras showed that the lawmaker remained a mere spectator while his son and supporters brutally thrashed the toll plaza employee. Prakash, who represents the Baldev constituency later gave a justification saying, “My security vehicles went before us but they still dropped that stick on our car, despite seeing vidhayak [legislator] written on it prominently”.

In another similar incident, a BJP MLA Dalbeer Singh had confronted toll plaza employees at Dasna on National Highway 24 in Ghaziabad district for illegally paying toll. As per reports, the However, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said the agency was authorised to collect the toll.

In April last year, Rakesh Rathore, the BJP MLA from Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh reportedly slapped a toll plaza employee after after waiting for 10 seconds for his convoy to cross the toll. As per reports by NDTV, Rathore’s staff allegedly refused to pay the toll and tried to drive off without paying. Soon after, the blame game continued as the MLA reportedly denied the claims stating that the culprit was Mahendra Yadav, a Samajwadi Party leader, and not him.

There are many such incidences that show us how lawmakers consider themselves superior over law and order. Lawmakers should instead abide by the laws they make and set an example for people around them. They should be role models for the society and not people who promote violence in any form.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2018 01:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).