In a brave feat, a cinematographer from Kerala has stood up to bad roads by refusing to pay the toll at a highway.
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent movement during India's freedom struggle, Shento Anto who travelling from Palakkad to Ernakulam refused to pay the toll at the Panniyankara Toll Plaza because of the poor condition of the highway.
"It took one Mahatma Gandhi to get us freedom, just like that it will take one man to stand up for bad roads to get it fixed," he told the people at the toll naka.
While people at the toll naka were insistent on getting him to pay and move, Shento argued that if the toll needs to be paid, then safe roads are also a must.
"I can't give the toll. You can put a case on me. I will give you my name and address. But when the condition of the road is so bad, what do you expect me to pay the toll for?" he is seen questioning the staff at the toll plaza in a video.
What eventually started as a single man's fight, ended up with a couple of fellow travelers joining in and telling Shento that they have also parked their cars behind his, and they too won't be paying the toll.
For 3 hours, the staff didn't let him move. "The people who supported me initially, have also left," shared Shento in a video.
"But I don't want to leave because someone has to take up this fight. They have blocked my vehicle from both the sides. The bad roads are a huge problem and end up delaying our travel time instead of cutting it short," he argued.
After a 10-hour wait, the toll plaza staff finally let him go. However, before leaving Shento said that he would return the next day as well and not pay the toll until the roads were fixed.
The internet gave a huge shoutout to Shento for his decision, with people liking and sharing his video. Urging people to join Shento in his movement, an Instagram user wrote: "His voice is for everyone. If there is value for his time, then everyone should stand with him."
"This is called one man army," shared another user. "Appreciate your persistence," wrote a third one.
Touted on Instagram as the "man who stood up for the masses", people have been commenting that they will join him the next time he decides to visit the toll naka.
