Rajasthan police arrested independent candidate Naresh Meena on Thursday after he allegedly slapped a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) outside a polling booth during by-elections in the Deoli-Uniara assembly constituency in Tonk district.
The incident occurred late Wednesday when Meena, who was contesting as an independent candidate, clashed with SDM Amit Chaudhary outside a polling station. Meena reportedly tried to enter the station in Samravata village despite being stopped by authorities overseeing the election process. A scuffle broke out between the two, and a video of the altercation shows Meena slapping Chaudhary.
Following the incident, tensions escalated in Tonk, with police attempting to detain Meena, leading to unrest in the district. The situation worsened into stone-pelting and arson, with several vehicles set on fire and vandalised. Authorities arrested around 60 individuals in connection with the violence.
Read Alos | Independent Candidate Naresh Meena Slaps SDM Outside Polling Booth During Rajasthan By-Election (Watch Video)
Ajmer Range IG Om Prakash confirmed that around 60 people had been arrested in connection with the violence. "There was a ruckus, stone pelting, and an arson incident after police tried to apprehend Naresh Meena for allegedly assaulting SDM Amit Chaudhary. So far, 60 people have been arrested in this case," Prakash said.
Meena had alleged that SDM Chaudhary allowed three voters to cast their ballots secretly, which he said provoked public anger. Additionally, Meena claimed that his election symbol on the electronic voting machine (EVM) was unclear, making it difficult for his supporters to identify his name.
In a video message, Meena said, "I am sitting on a dharna with the villagers of Samraota panchayat. The villagers demand that their panchayat be placed under the Uniara sub-division, which is closer, instead of Deoli." He called for the Tonk collector to address their concerns with the chief minister.
The situation remains tense as investigations continue into the incident and the subsequent violence.