'Surround the police, block traffic': Dramatic arrest of Rajasthan candidate who slapped SDM | WATCH
PTC News Desk: Naresh Meena, the independent candidate in Wednesday's by-election for Rajasthan's Deoli-Uniara Assembly seat who slapped an election official on camera before voting, was arrested Thursday amid high drama.
He was arrested during a "strategic" operation by a massive police force that comprised senior officers and cops wearing full riot gear. Minutes before getting stopped and arrested, Meena told reporters, "I will not surrender" and urged his supporters to "surround the police... jam traffic".
#WATCH | Tonk, Rajastha: Police arrests Naresh Meena from Samravata VIllage.
Naresh Meena, independent candidate for Deoli Uniara assembly constituency by-polls in Tonk district, after he allegedly physically assaulted SDM Amit Chaudhary at a polling booth yesterday pic.twitter.com/v8meme4qsw — ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2024
Videos show dozens of cops walking down a rural road, practically all holding lathis and shields and wearing protective vests and helmets. Police cars and an anti-riot vehicle were also spotted. "We will approach strategically... we will request him to surrender and not take the law into his own hands," Vikas Sangwan, Superintendent of Police in Tonk district said earlier.
However, Meena's arrest sparked more violent protests from supporters, who gathered to block the highway outside the village of Samravata, where the 'slap-gate' incident occurred.
A viral video showed Meena walking into the booth, taking Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amit Choudhary's collar, and hitting his head. He struck two blows before cops captured him.
Meena claimed Choudhary conspired to add three more votes at that booth.
"My plan was to visit every booth... but I found that the entire administration was trying to ensure the BJP candidate would win. People were being forced to vote," he claimed, "and when I questioned who was forcing them, they answered the SDM. Yes, I hit him, but it was because he had done something wrong."
The police, however, had a different story; SP Sangwan stated, "Some people were boycotting the panchayat poll. The SDM and Tehsil officers went to persuade them, but during the negotiation, the independent candidate (Naresh Meena) slapped him."
BIG BREAKING ????
टोंक हिंसा मामले का आरोपी नरेश मीणा" को STF ने गिरफ्तार किया
कल रात टोंक में भारी बवाल हुआ था। टोंक में हिंसा, आगजनी हुई थी
कल SDM को थप्पड़ भी मारा था और
आज सुबह मीडिया से बात करते हुए अपनी हैकडी दिखा रहा था नरेश मीणा#nareshmeena #Naresh_Meena #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/exlhQsxyGc — Ready Speed News (@RahulJh23110605) November 14, 2024
- With inputs from agencies
