Toll gate shut after attack on tourists

Cuttack: The district administration on Wednesday closed the Munduli toll gate near Athagarh in Cuttack district till further notice after a group of toll gate staff allegedly attacked Chhattisgarh tourists on Tuesday.
Athagarh sub-collector Hemanta Swain said, “A probe has been initiated after a tourist filed a complaint. The toll gate, which belongs to Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Ltd (OBCC), was closed on Wednesday till further notice after the incident.”
The video of the incident went viral on social media. Police said around 70 tourists were travelling in two buses to Rameswaram and Puri and were returning to Chhattisgarh via Odisha. Their last stop was Nandankanan after which they were returning home.
Minutes after leaving Nandankanan, the two buses crossed Mahanadi and stopped at the toll gate in Mundali where they were asked to pay Rs 1,000 for two buses.
Asked to clarify the amount, the toll gate employee spat on the bus owner and started beating him.
Later, a group of goons joined them and started assaulting the staff of the buses and passengers, including women. The tourists were attacked with wooden planks and sticks at the toll gate, the police added.
A total of 11 tourists were injured in the incident. Some women and children, who were also injured, were taken to a hospital at Athagarh. Their condition is stable, the police added.