Lawyers' Protest Halts Toll Operations in Barabanki After FASTag Dispute Turns Violent
A simple disagreement over FASTag payment spiraled into chaos at the Bara Haidergarh toll plaza in Barabanki on Thursday. The incident allegedly involved the assault of Pratapgarh lawyer Ratnesh Shukla. This event triggered a massive response from the legal community, leading to a full-scale protest that brought toll collection to a complete standstill.
Violent Clashes and Infrastructure Damage
Hundreds of lawyers descended upon the toll plaza around 11:30 AM. Reports from the scene describe a tense scuffle with toll employees. The lawyers allegedly forced the staff to flee for their safety. In the ensuing melee, they broke the boom barriers, effectively halting all vehicle fee collection.
The lawyers did not stop there. They occupied the toll plaza premises and began a sit-in protest. Their action successfully prevented the collection of tolls from any passing vehicles, causing significant disruption.
Arrests and Political Undertones
Police authorities took swift action in response to the violence. They arrested toll manager Jagbhan Singh and four staff members: Vishwajeet, Lavlesh, Golu, and Ravi Tomar. All were sent to jail. The timing of the protest is notable, as it gained momentum just before the Bar Council election voting was set to begin on Friday.
The protest saw leadership from Haidergarh Bar Association president Achal Mishra. Bar Council candidates from the state capital, Lucknow, also arrived at the site with their supporters, adding a political dimension to the demonstration.
Negotiations and Continued Tensions
Bar Council member Prashant Singh Atal reached the toll plaza and joined the sit-in, publicly backing the lawyers' demands. Around 4 PM, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rajesh Vishwakarma and Circle Officer Sameer Singh addressed the protesters. They informed the lawyers about the arrest of the toll manager.
This announcement led some lawyers to agree to withdraw. However, tensions flared again shortly after. Lawyers raised questions about the legal proceedings. They demanded to know why the manager and other accused were reportedly being charged under breach-of-peace provisions instead of being presented before a judicial court.
Prolonged Standoff and Nightfall
Assistant Superintendent of Police Vikas Chandra Tripathi later arrived at the scene. Arguments between the lawyers and officials continued for nearly two hours, with no immediate resolution in sight. As night fell, the toll collection remained completely suspended. The plaza was effectively shut down, leaving the situation unresolved and the infrastructure damaged.
The protest highlights growing tensions over FASTag implementation and toll plaza operations. It also underscores the influence of the legal community in local disputes, especially with elections looming. The aftermath of this violent clash will likely have repercussions for toll management and legal proceedings in the region.
