Seven persons have been arrested for assaulting an Indian Army soldier at a toll plaza in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district on Sunday, said the police on Monday.

The soldier, Kapil Singh of the Army’s Rajput Regiment and a resident of Gotka village, was assaulted while travelling to the Delhi airport to return to duty in Srinagar, said Meerut Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rakesh Kumar Mishra.

He requested to be let through quickly as he had an early morning flight and showed his Army identity card. However, the toll plaza staff got into an argument with him, which soon escalated into a violent altercation, said Singh’s brother Pradeep.

Videos shared on social media show Singh being held against a pole with his hands behind his back while several persons hit him.

The National Highways Authority of India said that it has imposed a penalty of Rs 20 lakh on the toll-collecting agency. The process of terminating the agency’s contract and debarring it from future toll plaza bids has been initiated, it added.

“NHAI strongly condemns such behaviour by the toll plaza staff and is committed to ensuring safe and seamless travel on National Highways,” the body said.

The accused persons have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to murder, unlawful assembly and robbery.

Police said efforts are underway to arrest others involved in the attack.

Several residents from Gotka village had gathered at the toll plaza on Monday for a protest. They vandalised the premises and demanded strict action against those responsible, Amar Ujala reported.

The Indian Army said it “strongly condemns such [an] incident against a serving soldier” and that it had approached the “highest authorities” in the Uttar Pradesh Police to seek action.

“The Indian Army remains committed to ensure justice and will pursue the case to its logical conclusion,” the Army’s Central Command said in a social media post.