Convoy allegedly forced way through toll barriers during transfer to funeral
Vehicles said to be part of a convoy accompanying Umar Ahmed — who was being escorted from Lucknow Jail under police custody to attend the funeral of Atiq Ahmed’s younger son, Aban Ahmed — have been accused of breaking toll barriers and abusing toll staff in Prayagraj and Pratapgarh districts. Toll management authorities filed complaints after the incidents, and police in both districts have registered cases and launched investigations, officials said.
At the Nawabganj Toll Plaza in Prayagraj, the episode is reported to have taken place at about 3:50 pm on Saturday. Toll officials alleged that dozens of private vehicles followed the prison van. When the barrier was lowered for toll collection, drivers in the convoy allegedly forced the barrier open, proceeded without paying the toll and also misbehaved with staff, the complaint by assistant manager Jaiprakash Yadav said.
“Some occupants abused toll employees and threatened to kill them when staff attempted to stop the vehicles,” the complaint alleged.
The complaint further alleged that certain vehicles were driven recklessly in what toll staff described as an attempt to run over employees. The FIR lodged on the basis of the complaint included details of more than 28 vehicles, according to the record of the complaint.
A similar incident was reported earlier at the Kotila Akhtiyari Toll Plaza under Hathigawan police station in Pratapgarh. Toll authorities there said the episode occurred around 3:04 pm, when a Thar and a Scorpio, allegedly part of the same convoy, arrived shortly after the prison van had crossed the plaza. The toll manager, Mohammad Ishaq, filed a complaint alleging the two vehicles broke the barrier and made an attempt to run over a toll employee.
Police in both Prayagraj and Pratapgarh have registered FIRs and said investigations are under way. No one has been named in the police statements released so far, and there was no immediate confirmation from law-enforcement spokesmen on whether passengers in the prison van were involved in the alleged conduct.
The incidents raised immediate questions among local road users and toll staff about convoy discipline during prisoner transfers and the safety of toll plaza personnel. Toll plaza operations rely on orderly collection and the physical integrity of barriers to protect workers; allegations that barriers were forcibly overridden and staff threatened or endangered prompted the management to approach police promptly.
The local cases add to the list of recent high-profile movements and security arrangements in the region. Authorities have not publicly detailed any arrests or further administrative action as of the filing of the complaints. Investigations by the concerned police stations will establish the sequence of events, identify the vehicles and determine whether the conduct, as alleged in the complaints, amounts to criminal offences such as assault, criminal intimidation and attempt to cause grievous harm.
- Who was being escorted: Umar Ahmed, from Lucknow Jail to a funeral.
- Allegations: Breaking of toll barriers, proceeding without paying tolls, abuse and threats to toll staff, attempts to run over employees.
- Action taken: Complaints filed by toll authorities; FIRs registered in Prayagraj and Pratapgarh; investigations started.
| Location | Reported time | Allegations |
|---|---|---|
| Nawabganj Toll Plaza, Prayagraj | 3:50 pm | Barrier broken, abuse and death threats to staff, attempt to run over employees; FIR lists 28+ vehicles |
| Kotila Akhtiyari Toll Plaza, Pratapgarh (Hathigawan PS) | 3:04 pm | Thar and Scorpio allegedly broke barrier and attempted to run over toll employee; complaint by manager Mohammad Ishaq |
Investigations continue and law-enforcement officials in the involved districts will provide further details as the probe progresses, police records show.
