Gurgaon, Sep 23 (PTI): In a brazen act, a young attendant at a Toll plaza here was shot dead by passengers in a car a little past midnight when he asked for the toll fee of Rs 27 from them, police said today.

According to Gurgaon Police Commissioner S S Deswal, 22-year-old attendant Umesh Kumar Pandey had asked for the toll tax from the car owners at around 12:30 am at Kheri Daula.

The car owners refused to pay and insisted that they be allowed to go. When Umesh insisted for the payment, an occupant in the car owner took out a revolver and fired at him from point blank range.

The bullet pierced his neck, resulting in his spot death, he said. The police have registered an FIR against unknown persons and got the CCTV footage to trace the culprits.

DCP, East and South Gurgaon, Maheswar Dayal said, "The murder happened because of non-payment of toll-tax." He said some 17-28 villages neighbouring Khirikidaula are exempt from paying tax. The only thing is that they have to show their ID-card.

"The video footage we have noticed shows that the assailants have shown their ID-card or driving licence and after that deceased Umeshkant lifted the toll barrier and closed his own window, asking them to leave but they still refused to leave," he said.

"Then to check again he opened the window and it was then that he was shot at. We are not very clear whether it was because of non-payment of toll tax or if it was just a spontaneous burst of anger due to use of some foul language," he said.

Dayal said, "We have examined the witnesses present during that time and recorded their statements. Special police parties have been formed and we are also doing technical investigations," he said, adding Gurgaon Police will taken stern action against the offenders.