Toll booth scuffle on Samriddhi Highway leads to gunfire; one employee critically injured, another absconding. Questions arise over illegal weapon possession as police intensify investigation into the shocking incident.
Mumbai | July 11, 2025: The crime rate in Maharashtra has witnessed a worrying rise in recent years, and the recent shooting at the toll booth on the Samriddhi Highway in Sawangi, Phulambri taluka, has further intensified concerns. The incident occurred on Tuesday night during a scuffle between two toll booth employees, resulting in a bullet being fired and hitting one of the employees, Bharat Ghatge, in the stomach.
Ghatge, who was seriously injured in the incident, has been admitted to Ghati Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for treatment. Meanwhile, the second employee involved in the fight fled the scene immediately after the shooting, deepening the mystery around the incident.
This case has raised alarming questions, especially regarding how the toll booth employees came into possession of a firearm. When local police questioned officials of the Samriddhi Highway administration, they denied issuing any pistols to their staff. This has prompted a detailed investigation into how the employees acquired the weapon and what their intentions were.
According to early information, a heated argument broke out between the two employees for an unknown reason. The quarrel escalated into a physical fight, during which a pistol was drawn, and a bullet struck Ghatge. The reason behind the altercation and the motive for using a weapon remain unclear at this stage.
Police have launched a manhunt for the absconding employee and are investigating all angles, including potential lapses in toll booth security and the illegal possession of firearms. The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for stricter surveillance and safety protocols at toll plazas across the state.
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