JALANDHAR, June 26 — Panic broke out at the Dhilwan toll plaza on the Jalandhar-Amritsar national highway after four unidentified armed men opened fire late Wednesday night when asked to pay toll charges. While no one was injured, the shots came dangerously close to toll booth staff, officials said.
The incident unfolded at Gate No. 3 of the toll plaza when a white Creta SUV without a number plate approached from the Jalandhar side around midnight. Jugraj Singh, a toll employee from Dhaniye Ke Bangar in Gurdaspur district, asked the occupants to pay the toll fee. Instead, the driver attempted to speed through the lane without paying.
Reacting quickly, toll workers blocked the vehicle using barricades, forcing it to stop. What followed was a sudden escalation—four men, one of whom was reportedly wearing a turban, got out of the vehicle. One of them fired three to four rounds toward the toll booth before all four fled in the direction of Beas.
Police from Dhilwan station arrived promptly at the scene and secured CCTV footage for review. “We have taken CCTV footage into our custody and launched an investigation,” said Station House Officer (SHO) Dalwinderbir Singh. “An FIR has been registered against unknown individuals under relevant sections, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the accused.”
Toll plaza officials confirmed the shooting occurred during the night shift, noting that the staff narrowly escaped injury. The incident has raised serious concerns over the safety of toll workers and commuters along the heavily travelled highway.
Security has since been stepped up in the area, and checkpoints have been activated on nearby routes to trace the suspects.
