Army Jawan Meerut Assault: Army Condemns Attack; 7 Arrested, Rs 20 Lakh Fine On Bhuni Toll Operator

The soldier, Kapil Kavad, is with the Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army (Image courtesy: RNA)
In a development that brings nothing but shame on our parts as citizens, an Army jawan was attacked and assaulted at a toll plaza in Meerut. Identified as Kavil Kavad of the Indian Army’s Rajput Regiment, the soldier was on his way back to rejoin duty in Srinagar after completing his leave.
Kapil was home for holiday and was to fly to Srinagar from Delhi’s IGI airport, from where he had a flight to catch. The soldier and his cousin got stuck at the crowded Bhuni toll booth in Meerut. Since Kapil had a flight to catch, he got out of the car and started speaking to the toll staff.
However, this resulted in an altercation between the soldier and the toll booth staff, who, at least 5 of them, got violent and beat Kapil and his cousin. A video of the assault, which is now circulating on social media, showed the Bhuni toll plaza employees hitting Kapil with a stick.
जनपद मेरठ में भूनी टोल पर भारतीय सेना के जवान के साथ मारपीट करने वाले मुख्य अभियुक्त सहित 07 अभियुक्तगण गिरफ्तार हत्या के प्रयास का मुकदमा दर्ज कर भेजें गए जेल ।#UPPolice #MeerutPolice@AmarUjalaNews@bstvlive@JagranNews@IndiaNewsUP_UK@News18UP@Republic_Bharat @ndtv… pic.twitter.com/70qgFEVaP4
— MEERUT POLICE (@meerutpolice) August 18, 2025
Some of them even pinned the Army jawan to a pole, pull his hands back and beat him.
Army Jawan beaten at toll plaza: What really happened?
According to Rakesh Kumar Mishra, Superintendent of Police (Rural), “Kapil was returning to his post. There was a long queue at the Bhuni toll booth. He was in a hurry and he spoke to the toll booth staff. An argument began and the toll booth staff assaulted him.” Following a complaint from his family, a case was registered at Sarurpur police station.
Some reports, however, indicated that the fight between the Army jawan and toll booth employees broke out after Kapil told them that his village is in the area exempted from toll charges. This led to an argument that snowballed into the soldier’s assault.
Army Jawan Meerut Assault: What is the latest update?
After a video of the shocking incident went viral, 7 accused have been arrested by the police, with the help of CCTV footage.
Indian Army too condemned “such incident against a serving soldier.” In a statement, the Central Command of Indian Army said, “Highest authorities of Uttar Pradesh Police have been approached to bring the guilty to books. FIR has since been lodged under BNS for attempt to Murder, unlawfully assembly and Robbery.”
Violence Against Soldier at Meerut Toll Plaza
On 17 August 2025, at around 2000 hrs, at Bhuni toll plaza, Meerut, a soldier posted in Srinagar while returning to duty, was beaten by workers of the Toll Plaza.#IndianArmy strongly condemns such incident against a serving… pic.twitter.com/PCWs2DJNDM
— SuryaCommand_IA (@suryacommand) August 18, 2025
Further, the National Highways Authority of India has also taken strict action on the incident of misbehaviour with army personnel by toll staff deployed at Bhuni Toll Plaza on Meerut-Karnal section of NH-709A on August 17. It has imposed a penalty of Rs 20 lakh on the toll collecting agency Dharam Singh.
NHAI will also be terminating and debarring the toll collection firm from future participation in toll plaza bids.