Car occupants abuse, attempt to assualt toll plaza staff

Udupi: Tension prevailed briefly at Sasthan Toll Plaza at Kota locality here after a group of men allegedly abused and attempted to assault toll staff following a dispute over a delay in clearing their vehicle.The complainant, Yogeesh Kumar, 42, assistant manager of the toll plaza stated that the incident occurred around 8pm Tuesday while he was on duty. As a bus travelling from Udupi to Kundapur was paying the toll fee, a car with three occupants arrived behind it. One of the occupants, identified as Venkatesh Prasad, got out of the car, questioned the delay in allowing the vehicle to pass, kicked the toll barrier and verbally abused the staff using foul language, the complaint said. He also allegedly pushed them.The complaint further stated that another occupant, Vinayak, took out an iron rod and attempted to assault the staff, despite knowing that such an attack could be fatal. The staff managed to escape and avoided serious injury. Yogeesh Kumar then intervened and restrained the accused, while the third occupant, identified as Dhanush, drove the car away from the spot.Based on the complaint, Kota police registered a case under sections 115(2), 352 and 110 read with 3(5) of BNS.