Members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) allegedly caused havoc at the Sinnar toll plaza on the Samruddhi expressway in Nashik. The incident occurred after the party’s student wing leader, Amit Thackeray, was made to wait at the toll plaza. The MNS activists vandalized the toll booths, prompting the Wavi police to initiate legal action against the unidentified vandals.
According to Nashik Rural SP Shahaji Umap, Amit Thackeray was traveling towards Nashik in a party car on the Samruddhi expressway on Saturday night. When the vehicle reached the Sinnar toll plaza around 9.15pm, the boom barrier didn’t lift due to issues with the Fastag. However, after a quick resolution, Thackeray was able to continue his journey in a little over three minutes.
Later, at around 10.15pm, a group of MNS activists arrived at the toll plaza and demanded an apology. The toll booth employees apologized, and the activists left. However, at 2.09am on Sunday, 15 alleged MNS workers armed with sticks returned to the toll plaza, shouting MNS slogans. They broke the window panes of the booths before leaving the scene in just a few minutes.
Amit Thackeray expressed his frustration over the incident, stating that even though the car had a Fastag, the boom barrier didn’t lift. The toll employees claimed there was an issue and called their manager. However, Thackeray found their behavior and the manager’s tone arrogant. He and his associates were made to wait for 10 to 15 minutes before being allowed to proceed. Upon reaching the hotel, Thackeray learned about the vandalism at the toll plaza. He mentioned that due to the influence of MNS leader Raj Thackeray, 65 toll nakas were already shut, and now another toll plaza had been added to the list.
The police are in the process of registering an FIR against the unidentified MNS workers responsible for the vandalism. It is important to maintain peace and adhere to the law to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future. The safety of toll booth workers and the smooth functioning of toll plazas are imperative for the convenience of travelers.
