New Delhi: More than 100 supporters of Naresh Meena, an independent candidate from the Deoli-Uniara seat in Rajasthan’s Tonk district, were arrested hours after they resorted to vandalism and arson in Samaravata village.
Violence and chaos erupted when Meena, who was contesting after rebelling from the Congress, slapped the SDM, and later his supporters took to the streets to prevent his arrest.
The slapping incident occurred during the polling for by-elections for seven assembly seats in Rajasthan, including the Deoli-Uniara seat in Tonk district, on Wednesday.
Over 100 vehicles torched, cops injured
The slapping incident resulted in a standoff between Naresh Meena’s backers and the police. When the cops tried to take Meena into custody, his supporters resorted to stone-pelting and arson. In response, the police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. They carried out about 100 rounds of aerial firing. The supporters of Meena set ablaze over 100 vehicles parked on the road. Vehicles inside houses and buildings were also vandalised. Around a dozen cops were injured in the melee. During the chaos, the police took Naresh Meena into custody. However, after a while, Meena escaped from police custody. He also wrote a post on X, saying, “I am fine. Were not afraid, nor will be afraid, Further strategy will be told!”
मैं ठीक हूँ…
ना डरे थे ना डरेंगे,
आगे की रणनीति बता दी जायेगी!— Naresh Meena (@NareshMeena__) November 13, 2024
Later, the police arrested over 100 supporters of Meena. Four cases have been registered against Meena at the Nagarkot police station, including fleeing from police custody and assaulting an on-duty administrative officer.
The police are conducting raids in various places in search of Meena. It is reported that Meena had planned to hold a sit-in with the villagers throughout the night. For this, youths from nearby villages were also called.
Fear and tension has gripped Samaravata village following the violence. Local journalists were also present at the polling booth where the sit-in was to take take place. When violence erupted, the journalists scurried for cover and rushed into the polling station.
Why did Meena slap the SDM
The chaos broke out at a polling booth in Samravata village, where the locals declared that they would boycott voting in support of their demand to bring the village under Uniara tehsil, closer to their location. As SDM Amit Chaudhary tried to convince the villagers to cast their ballots, Meena, who was reportedly backing the boycott, slapped the official.
Tonk Collector Soumya Jha, the District Election Officer, confirmed the incident and underlined the villagers’ demand for inclusion in Uniara tehsil. He said that the villagers had raised the demand earlier as well and were assured that the matter would be considered after the model code of conduct was lifted.
