A toll collector on the Delhi-Gurgaon toll road was shot dead by an unidentified commuter.
The incident occurred very early Friday morning at around 12:30 am at the NH 8 toll plaza, Kheri Daula . The deceased was identified as 22-year-old toll collector Umesh Kant Pandey.
The shocking murder happened when Umesh asked the passengers for the toll fee of Rs 27 from them, police said.
According to the police, a Mahindra Scorpio stopped at the toll barrier and asked Umesh to lift the barrier without paying the toll tax. He posed as a local resident and forced Umesh to let his car go through the barrier free of cost.
Umesh tried to refuse but lifted the barrier and the SUV passed through. But the assailant came back and the two had a heated conversation.
Suddenly the assailant pulled out a pistol and shot Umesh at close range. The bullet pierced his neck, resulting in his spot death, he said. Umesh was immediately taken to the Medanta Medicity Hospital but the efforts were in vein.
“We have registered an FIR following the incident. The CCTV footage has a slight view of the white Scorpio. A team has been formed to investigate the case,” said Gurgaon’s Kherki Daula police station SHO Rajeev Kumar, adding that none of his colleagues identified the noise as a gunshot immediately as the sound was very low, an indication that the weapon was sophisticated.
The family members of the deceased have been intimated and the body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.
Toll plaza CEO Manoj Agrawal said 'adequate compensation' had been announced.
Cops examining CCTV footage
DCP, East and South Gurgaon, Maheswar Dayal said some 17-28 villages neighbouring Kherki Daula are exempt from paying tax. The only thing is that they have to show their ID-card.
Dayal said, "We have examined the witnesses present during that time and recorded their statements. Special police parties have been formed and we are also doing technical investigations," he said, adding Gurgaon Police will taken stern action against the offenders.