BJP MP’s Bodyguard Seen Thrashing Toll Plaza Employees on Camera

The bodyguards allegedly beat up toll plaza employees and fired in the air after an argument broke out.

Ram Shankar Katheria addresses.

(Photo: IANS)

A BJP leader’s bodyguards were caught on camera engaging in violence only days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned violent behaviour by BJP lawmakers.

Ram Shankar Katheria who is a Lok Sabha MP from Etawah was crossing a toll plaza in Agra while returning from Delhi when the incident happened.

His bodyguards allegedly beat up toll plaza employees and fired in the air after an argument broke out when the toll employees asked the drivers of Katheria’s cavalcade to exit the plaza in a queue, so that the boom barrier doesn’t fall.

The act, which was caught on CCTV camera, can be seen in the video below.

Anupam Singh, an employee at the toll plaza lodged a complaint at the Etmadpur police station against Katheria and his staff.

‘Any Chance of Action,’ Asks Priyanka

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, meanwhile, tweeted that BJP leaders, who are “supposed to serve people are instead thrashing employees.” She asked if there was “any chance of action” against these BJP workers.

'Shot Fired in Self-Defence,’ Says Katheria

Quoting Singh’s complaint, Hindustan Times reported, “It was around 3.45 am on Saturday when the cavalcade of Katheria reached the toll plaza but there was no prior information about his arrival there. Beside the MP’s vehicle, there were five other cars and a bus in his convoy, but they did not pass through the VIP lane.”

Agra’s Senior Superintendent of Police Babloo Kumar said, “A case has been registered in the case, action is being taken. Strict action will be taken against the people involved in the incident.”

Talking to ANI, Katheria said the shot was fired in self-defence.

“My security did not attack toll plaza employees, they first attacked my people. Toll employees did not know other cars were part of my convoy, they thought some other car is slipping through behind mine. My security guard only fired in self-defence.”

Katheria has previously been involved in violence as well. Only a few months before in April 2019, an FIR was lodged against him for assaulting a police sub-inspector during a public meeting in Patthra.

Katheria is the second BJP leader who has been been involved in violence in the recent times. Earlier, Indore MLA Aaskh Vijayvargiya was seen hitting a civic officer with a cricket bat on a video that went viral, prompting Modi to warn his fellow BJP members against such misbehaviour.