Padubidre: Tollgate employees are staging flash protests pressing their various demands at Hejamadi and Sastana on National Highway 16 since this morning. Consequently, vehicles are moving without paying the toll fees at both the tollgates.

The primary demand of the toll booth employees is to get a confirmation letter about their employment.

Earlier, a company called Feedback had obtained the contract of the Hejamadi and Sastana tollgates. But recently a new company Markline has got the contract. The new contracting company has allegedly not issued the confirmation letter to the employees. Due to which the tollgate employees are on strike since 8 am today demanding the new company to give the confirmation letter on the employment immediately.

Meanwhile; at Hejmadi Tollgate, the new company dismissed an employee Shivu, a local resident. Now, the protestors are demanding to retain Shivu.

About 80 employees participated in the strike at Hejamadi.

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Ballia (PTI): A police inspector has been suspended here for allegedly using abusive and obscene language during a phone conversation with a 33-year-old rape survivor, officials said on Wednesday.

The action came after an audio clip, purportedly of Inspector Naresh Malik of the Crime Branch, went viral on social media on Monday.

In the clip, he is allegedly heard speaking to the woman in an objectionable manner during his earlier posting as inspector (crime) at the local Ubhaon police station.

According to the police, a case was registered on February 20 at the Ubhaon police station based on the woman's complaint.

The woman had alleged that a forest department sub-inspector, Ugrasen Kumar Jaiswal, raped her about six months ago on the pretext of marriage. She also alleged that he threatened to kill her if she pursued the complaint.

In a separate complaint sent to the deputy inspector general of police, the survivor alleged that Malik and SHO Sanjay Shukla had called her and used abusive and obscene language, asking her to meet them alone. She further alleged that they told her her case would be helped only if she "satisfied" them, and that Malik even offered her money during the conversation.

Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh said the matter came to his notice on Monday, following which Malik was placed under suspension with immediate effect.

An inquiry has been ordered into the allegations, and Additional Superintendent of Police (North) Dinesh Kumar Shukla has been assigned to probe the matter, Singh said.

"Strict action will be taken against the accused based on the findings of the inquiry," the SP added.