Rajasthan bypolls: Independent MLA Naresh Meena arrested day after slapping SDM

Rajasthan police on Thursday arrested Naresh Meena from Samravata village.

Congress rebel and Independent MLA Naresh Meena was on November 14 arrested for slapping an official during polling in Rajasthan's Tonk district.

The candidate for Deoli Uniara assembly constituency in Rajasthan was on November 13 caught on camera physically assaulting sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Amit Chaudhary at a polling booth. Meena caught the Malpura SDM by his collar and slapped him.

VIDEO | Rajasthan: Independent candidate Naresh Meena, who had allegedly slapped SDM Malpura Amit Chaudhary, during bypoll voting for the Deoli-Uniara assembly constituency yesterday, arrested by the police.#Tonk #RajasthanNews(Full video available on PTI Videos - pic.twitter.com/lgRtgiJswc
Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 14, 2024

The incident took place when Chaudhary was trying to gather more people to cast vote in the bypolls. Locals were boycotting polling over a demand to include Samravta village in Uniara sub-division instead of in Deoli. Congress rebel Meena was supporting the villagers.

Meena had sat on a dharna in Samravta village and also called on his supporters to gather in the village in large numbers with sticks to mount pressure on the administration.

Things turned chaotic in the area after the police tried removing the Congress rebel from the protest site. Meena's supporters set several vehicles on fire and pelted stones at the police. This led to the arrest of at least 60 people.

Reacting on the assault incident, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said when there is no fear among people, they take the law into their own hands. He also questioned the ruling BJP government in the state and blamed it for the worsening law and order situation.

"Why did a situation arise where an SDM was slapped? How did he (Independent MLA Naresh Meena) have the courage to do such a thing? The BJP has no tolerance towards suggestions from the opposition. What has the state government done in this year? When there is no fear among people, they take the law into their own hands, this is the situation in the entire state today," Gehlot said.

Following the incident yesterday, a Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) association demanded that Meena be arrested for hitting the Malpura SDM. It had also threatened a pen-down strike if he was not arrested by Thursday morning.

Last week, the Congress suspended Meena from the party with immediate effect for contesting elections as an Independent after being denied a ticket. The Deoli-Uniara seat fell vacant after Congress leader Harish Chandra Meena was elected to the Lok Sabha in June. The party has fielded Kastor Chand Meena from the assembly bypoll.