A massive confrontation erupted at the Bandanwara toll plaza on National Highway 48 (NH-48), which passes through the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. The clash between toll plaza employees and truck drivers rapidly escalated into a violent conflict. According to sources, the toll workers brutally assaulted a truck driver over an unspecified dispute. As news of this assault spread among other truck drivers and their associates traveling along the highway, anger quickly flared. Within a short span of time, a large number of truck drivers converged on the scene and began staging a heavy protest.
Vandalism at Toll Cabins Triggers Chaos and Panic
The fury of the protesting truck drivers did not stop at mere slogans. The angry mob began vandalizing the Bandanwara toll plaza, targeting the infrastructure. During the rampage, the glass windows and structures of several toll booths were completely shattered, causing widespread panic among the toll employees on duty. Fearing for their safety, the staff scrambled to find cover as the situation spiraled out of control. Following the violence and destruction, all operations at the toll plaza ground to a complete halt. Recognizing the volatile nature of the situation and the mounting tension on the busy highway, witnesses immediately alerted the local police administration to restore order.
Police Forces from Two Stations Deployed for Mediation
Upon receiving reports of the violence and chaos at the toll plaza, the Bhinai police station dispatched a team with reinforcements to the location. Assessing the severity of the situation, the police officers quickly requested additional backup, prompting the deployment of personnel from another nearby police station to the Bandanwara toll plaza. Currently, police forces from two separate stations remain stationed at the site to maintain law and order. Senior police officials engaged in extensive discussions with the agitating truck drivers to pacify them. The drivers, however, presented a firm demand to the police, insisting on the immediate arrest and strict legal prosecution of the toll plaza employees who were involved in the unprovoked assault of the innocent truck driver.
Massive Traffic Jams Paralyze Highway as Diversions Implemented
The violent clash and the subsequent protest had a direct, crippling impact on the flow of traffic on NH-48. With heavy trucks parked haphazardly across the lanes, movement on the highway came to a standstill, leading to traffic jams stretching over several kilometers. Thousands of commuters, passenger buses, and essential service vehicles were stranded in the gridlock, causing immense inconvenience to travelers. To bring the situation under control and ease the congestion, the police administration has mobilized multiple teams. In addition to negotiating with the protesters, the police are actively diverting vehicles through alternative routes to bypass the affected stretch and ensure that normalcy is restored on the highway as quickly as possible.
