Indian soldier en route to Kashmir assaulted at UP toll booth
Srinagar, August 18 (KMS): An Indian soldier, Kapil Kavad of the Rajput Regiment, was brutally assaulted by toll booth staff at Bhuni plaza in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, while heading to Delhi airport to rejoin his post in Srinagar, occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, police said Kapil, who was on leave, got into an argument with toll staff after being stuck in traffic, which soon escalated into violence. A video of the incident showing the soldier being pinned to a pole and beaten with sticks went viral on social media.
Superintendent of Police, Rakesh Kumar Mishra, confirmed that four employees have been arrested, while further raids are underway to nab others involved.
Analysts observe that respect for Indian soldiers has sharply declined among the Indian public following New Delhi’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Pakistan in May 2025. They point out that incidents of mistreatment, such as assaults on soldiers in public places, reflect growing disillusionment and eroding confidence in the Indian army’s image, which once enjoyed an untouchable status in Indian society.
