Sandeep Mehta, the editor and owner of Hindi daily newspaper ‘Dainik Awantika’ published from Ujjain and Indore was beaten up by the toll tax employees on Indore-Ujjain four-lane near Arbindo hospital toll barrier in Banganga police station area on Monday night.
Mehta was going to Indore from Ujjain to his office when he stopped at the toll tax barrier and showed his press identity card approved by Madhya Pradesh Government for journalists. The toll tax employees tore his identity card and told that such cards are not applicable on their toll tax.
Mehta when came out of his car to ask as why his identity card was torn off, the volunteers of the toll barrier pushed him on the road and thrashed him with sticks. The goons snatched his gold chain and wallet containing Rs20,000 cash, credit card, driving licence and passport.
He was immediately rushed by the passersby to the hospital where he is admitted in ICU and his condition is critical due to excessive bleeding. He has also suffered head injury. SP East Indore OP Tripathi told The Pioneer, “We have taken the application and statement from the victim and a case will be registered against the toll tax employees with all needful IPC section.”
A delegation of journalists in Bhopal called on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighting the issue on Tuesday. He assured that he would take stern action against the culprits. “I have always taken the issues related to the journalists, quite seriously. This time too, the culprits would not be spared,” he assured.