Independent candidate Naresh Meena was arrested on Thursday after a dramatic confrontation with police in the Deoli-Uniara Assembly by-election. His arrest came after he was caught on camera slapping an election official during voting that sparked unrest.
The police operation involved in arresting Meena comprised a massive force of senior officers and even officers fully clad in riot gear. Before he was cornered, Meena loudly and proudly told reporters, “I will not surrender,” urging his supporters to “surround the police and jam traffic.”
Footage from the spot, shared by news agency ANI, showed dozens of officers armed with shields and helmets marching towards Meena’s location. “We will approach strategically. and request him to surrender without taking the law into his own hands,” Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan said.
Protests broke out among the Meena supporters after his arrest as hundreds of them blocked a highway near Samravata, the site of the incident. Riot police were seen wading through burning straw as they tried to clear the obstruction. “The situation will be under control,” said Brijendra Singh Bhati, Additional SP, Tonk.
The viral video of the incident showed Meena entering the polling booth, grabbing Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amit Chaudhary by the collar and slapping him. Meena said Chaudhary tried to manipulate votes in favour of the BJP candidate. “Yes, I slapped him, but I did it because he was doing something wrong,” he said.
The police, however, gave a different account of the incident, saying the scuffle occurred as negotiations were being made to persuade boycotting voters to change their minds.
The aftermath of the event involved vandalism and arson incidents, with more than 60 reportedly arrested in clashes. Inspector-General Ajmer Range Om Prakash said that several vehicles were torched in the violence and that reinforcements had been deployed.
He accused Congress MP Harish Chandra Meena for orchestrating this against him, pointing at the conspiracy after his ticket was canceled for another candidate.
Reacting to the turmoil, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that because of the rulers, the credibility of the police had been compromised and law and order had gone worse. “When there is no fear among people, they take the law into their own hands,” he said.
The election in Deoli-Uniara was necessitated following the elevation of Harish Chandra Meena to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. The result of the election will be declared on November 23.
