After attack on Chhattisgarh tourists, admin seals Mundali toll gate in Cuttack

Two days after several tourists from Chhattisgarh were allegedly attacked by some staff of a toll gate near Mundali in Cuttack district, the administration on Thursday swung into action and sealed the toll gate.

A team of officials visited the toll gate and sealed it until further orders. Meanwhile, four accused who reportedly beat up the tourists with sticks and wooden planks have been arrested by the police and forwarded to court.

On the other hand, the administration arranged alternate transport facilities and sent the tourists back to their state. The district administration has also assured to pay compensation to the tourists for the damages they suffered.

Reports say that this isn’t the first such incident at the toll gate. Several incidents of violence and extortion were reported from the toll gate in the past.

The disturbing visuals of the tourists being assaulted had gone viral recently. The incident has left many shell-shocked as questions are being raised on the safety and security of tourists visiting the state from other states and countries.

Many intellectuals have pointed out that such incidents of attack on tourists would bring a bad name to Odisha and affect its tourism.

According to reports, several tourists from Chhattisgarh had gone to Nandankanan Zoo on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. After their visit, the tourists were heading back home in two buses when they were stopped at the toll plaza.

Instead of the regular Rs 200 toll fees, the toll staff reportedly demanded Rs 1000 for the two buses to cross the toll gate which led to the altercation. A total of 11 tourists and three toll gate staff have reportedly been injured in the brawl.
Some women and children have also reportedly sustained injuries in the attack.