Seoni, March 21 A group of Nihang Sikhs allegedly assaulted a toll booth employee in Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh, after a dispute over payment. Police said that a case has been registered against five individuals.
The incident took place on Friday when vehicles carrying Nihangs, a Sikh sect recognizable by their blue robes and traditional weaponry, from Punjab reached the Madai toll plaza on National Highway-44, they said.
The matter came to light after a video of the alleged violence went viral on social media on Saturday.
Police said the group was heading to Nanded, known for the revered Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib gurdwara, in neighbouring Maharashtra.
Citing the FIR, police said the toll staff alleged that the group tried to pass without paying the toll and attempted to break a barrier. When stopped, some Nihang Sikhs got down from their vehicles and allegedly abused the staff.
As the dispute escalated, they allegedly assaulted toll in-charge Munesh Singh Baghel using sword hilts and baseball bats, leaving him injured.
Lakhnadon police station house officer K P Dhurve said that a case has been registered against five individuals based on a complaint by toll plaza manager Amit Kumar Gupta.
"The footage shows Nihang Sikhs. We are trying to identify the accused based on the video of the incident," the official said.
After the alleged violence, the group fled towards Maharashtra, claimed the toll booth staff.