Rajasthan Candidate Naresh Meena Arrested For Slapping SDM in Tonk, His Supporters Protest

Tonk: Violence erupted in Rajasthan 's Tonk after police on Thursday afternoon arrested Independent candidate Naresh Meena who allegedly slapped Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Amit Chaudhary at a polling booth in Samravata village. This comes after heavy police force and senior police officers reached the village to arrest Meena.

Vikas Sangwan, Tonk Superintendent of Police (SP), said that the officials would approach strategically and would request Naresh Meena to surrender.

"We will approach strategically. We will request him to surrender and not take the law in his hands. Based on technical evidence, efforts are on to arrest the other accused as well. Nearly 10 police personnel sustained minor injuries and have been discharged after being given first aid. The miscreants had come from outside and many villagers were also injured during stone pelting... Some private vehicles were also torched in the process," he said.," The SP told ANI.

Emphasising that no accused will be spared, he added, "Case has been registered under cases of causing obstruction to government work, fleeing police custody, and vandalising public property... Many cases are already registered against the accused with impending arrests. We will arrest him on all charges and ensure stringent action."

Naresh's Arrest Sparks Violence, Security Heightened

As shown in the tweet above, Meena's supporters sparked violence in the Tonk region. Following this, the cops had to fire tear gas at the supporters to disperse them.

Officials have heightened the security in the region to avoid any possible chances of ruckus.

Meena Accuses Congress MP for the Incident

Meanwhile, Meena accused Congress MP from Tonk Harish Chandra Meena behind the whole incident.

"Harish Meena is involved in this. He got my ticket cancelled and has conspired against me many times before. I fear he may even arrange my encounter," he said.

The Independent candidate also alleged that people were being forced to vote in the village.

"When I asked the people who was forcing them, they said the SDM was doing it. Yes, I slapped the SDM, but I did it because he was doing wrong. We then staged a protest. I told the people to go and vote. After that, our food was cut off. When I went to ask for food, the SP grabbed my hand and told his police to put me in the vehicle. When they detained me, stone pelting began, and then a lathi charge happened. After that, the police left me there and ran away. The force then used tear gas and 'mirchi bombs', which injured me. The people then took me a little distance away," he said.

(Inputs from ANI)