Police Take Action in Toll Plaza Assault Case; Two Accused Arrested

Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh: The police have taken swift action in the assault case at Lodhi Toll Plaza in Sonbhadra, where a woman lawyer and her family were attacked. Two named accused have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Ramji Tiwari, a resident of Hamirpur, and Sarvesh Yadav from Ambedkarnagar. The incident gained widespread attention after a video of the assault went viral on social media.

According to reports, the incident occurred around 3 PM on Sunday when lawyer Aarti Pandey was traveling with her family from Obra to Robertsganj. Due to a technical issue, a vehicle in front did not receive the toll plaza message, causing their car to get stuck in Lane 3, briefly obstructing traffic. A verbal argument ensued between the toll plaza staff and the vehicle occupants, which quickly escalated into a physical confrontation.

It is alleged that toll personnel verbally abused the family and assaulted them with sticks and rods. When Aarti Pandey tried to intervene, she was also verbally abused and threatened with death. Several people were injured in the incident and were admitted to the District Medical College, with one person reported to be in critical condition.

The altercation was recorded by passersby, and the video circulated widely on social media, sparking outrage in the legal community and calls for strict action against the perpetrators.

Acting on a complaint filed by the victim, the Robertsganj police registered a case and launched an investigation. While two accused have already been arrested, authorities are identifying 7–8 other toll plaza staff involved, and their arrests are expected soon, followed by further legal proceedings.