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The arrest of Naresh Meena, an independent candidate in Rajasthan's Deoli-Uniara Assembly by-poll, unfolded amidst high drama on Thursday. Meena had gained notoriety for slapping an election official, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amit Choudhary, during voting on Wednesday. The incident, captured on camera, sparked outrage and led to a swift police operation to apprehend the candidate.
A large police team, including senior officers and personnel in full riot gear, carried out a 'strategic' operation to arrest Meena. Before being cornered and taken into custody, Meena declared to reporters that he would not surrender and urged his supporters to surround the police and disrupt traffic. Videos from the scene showed dozens of officers armed with lathis and shields, marching towards Meena's location, while police vehicles and an anti-riot vehicle accompanied them. The Superintendent of Police in Tonk district, Vikas Sangwan, stated that the police would approach Meena strategically, requesting him to surrender and avoid further conflict with the law.
However, Meena's arrest triggered further violent protests by his supporters. A large crowd gathered outside the village of Samravata, where the 'slap-gate' incident occurred, and blocked the highway. Videos showed police in riot gear marching down the highway, navigating through piles of burning straw scattered by Meena's supporters. Brijendra Singh Bhati, Additional SP (Tonk), confirmed that the roadblock had been cleared and the situation was under control.
Meena claimed that Choudhary had manipulated the voting process by adding extra votes at the polling booth. He alleged that the entire administration was working to ensure the victory of the BJP candidate and that people were being coerced into voting for them. He defended his actions by asserting that he had confronted Choudhary for wrongdoings and slapped him to hold him accountable. The police, however, presented a different narrative, stating that the altercation arose from an attempt by the SDM and Tehsil officers to convince individuals boycotting the panchayat election to participate. It was during this negotiation, the police claimed, that Meena assaulted the SDM.
The assault on the polling official triggered widespread violence, including vandalism, arson, and a failed attempt to arrest Naresh Meena the previous night. Inspector-General (Ajmer Range) Om Prakash stated that there had been rioting, stone-pelting, and arson in Samravata village after the police attempted to arrest Meena. He confirmed that 60 people had been arrested in connection with the violence. During the clashes between unidentified individuals and the police, eight cars, including police vehicles, and over two dozen motorcycles were set ablaze. The situation prompted the deployment of additional security forces to control the unrest.
Meena, who had been on the run following the 'slap-gate' incident, posted a message on X, boasting that he was not afraid and would not be intimidated. He also accused Harish Chandra Meena, the Congress MP for Tonk, of orchestrating the incident. Meena alleged that Harish Meena had conspired against him before, had his ticket canceled, and may even arrange for his encounter (killing). Meena had been suspended from the Congress last week for defying party orders. He had originally intended to contest the seat on the Congress ticket but the party chose Kastor Chand Meena as its candidate. In response, a disgruntled Naresh Meena announced his candidacy as an independent candidate with the support of the Bharat Adivasi Party.
The incident drew strong condemnation from former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who criticized the ruling BJP for its handling of the situation. He expressed concerns about the erosion of the state's police force credibility and the breakdown of law and order. He questioned the audacity of Meena's actions and emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating that when people lose fear of the law, they take matters into their own hands. He attributed this state of affairs to the current political climate in Rajasthan.
Source: "Wont Surrender": High Drama As Cops Arrest Rajasthan Candidate Who Slapped Official