Verify record of toll barrier employees: HP DGP to Excise dept

In wake of two incidents of dacoity at toll barriers, the Himachal Pradesh police has asked Excise and Taxation department to ensure that the staff at the check points are engaged after proper verification.
The staff at the toll barriers should wear uniform with name plates, state Director General of Police (DGP) B Kamal Kumar said today.
He asked Excise and Taxation department to follow the proper procedure to engage the contractual staff for the toll barriers.
Two toll barriers at Garamora and Bagheri were attacked on April 1 and April 3 respectively. Armed persons escaped with Rs 12 lakh cash at Garamora, while Naresh Kumar - a staff at Bagheri toll barrier was murdered, Kumar said.

Investigations found that Naresh was an accused in Garamora dacoity case and 12 criminal cases were registered against him in Punjab's Ropar district.
The probe revealed that other staff members at the toll barrier also had criminal background.
The incidents at two toll barriers showed that proper procedure was not being followed in the recruitment of the staff and as a consequence people with criminal background are serving at toll barriers, the DGP said.
Rates at toll barriers should be conspicuously displayed, CCTVs need be installed and a mechanism be evolved to ensure that the receipts match with the cash collected, Kumar said.