Rajasthan Candidate Naresh Meena Who Slapped Poll Official Arrested Amid High Drama
Naresh Meena – the independent candidate in Wednesday’s by-poll for Rajasthan’s Deoli-Uniara Assembly seat who slapped an election official on camera – was arrested Thursday amid high drama.
He was arrested after a “strategic” operation by a large police team, which included senior officers and cops in full riot gear. Minutes before he was cornered and taken into custody Meena declared to reporters “I will not surrender”, and called on his followers to “surround the police… jam traffic”.
Videos shared by news agency ANI showed dozens of cops, almost all carrying lathis and shields, and wearing protective vests and helmets, marching down a rural road. Police vehicles and an anti-riot vehicle were also seen. “We will approach strategically… we will request him to surrender and not take the law in his hands,” Vikas Sangwan, the Superintendent of Police in Tonk district, told ANI.
#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
The ‘slap-gate’ incident took place at a polling station in Samravata village. A video that went viral online showed Meena walking into the booth, grabbing Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amit Choudhary by the collar, and smacking his head. He landed two blows before the cops restrained him.
VIDEO | Rajasthan Official Slapped By Independent Candidate Outside Booth
Meena had alleged Choudhary had contrived to add three extra votes at that booth.
The police, however, had a different story; SP Sangwan said, “Some people were boycotting the panchayat election. The SDM and Tehsil officers went to convince them but, during the negotiation, the independent candidate (Naresh Meena) slapped him (the SDM).”
#WATCH | Tonk, Rajasthan: “I will not surrender,” says Naresh Meena, as police reaches Samravata VIllage to arrest him. pic.twitter.com/AN6T9qSQPf
— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2024
The assault on the polling official triggered violent reactions all around, including vandalism and arson, and a failed attempt to arrest Naresh Meena last night. Inspector-General (Ajmer Range) Om Prakash this morning said, “There was ruckus… stone pelting and arson… in Samravata village late last night after we tried to arrest Naresh Meena. So far 60 people have also been arrested.”
Eight cars, including police vehicles, and over two dozen motorcycles were set on fire during violence that broke out between unidentified individuals (likely supporters of Meena) and the police, prompting deployment of additional forces to restore law and order.
Immediately after the ‘slap-gate’ row Meena, then on the run, posted in Hindi on X, “Main theek hu… na dare the na darenge (I am fine… I am not scared and will never be).”
Meena was suspended from the Congress last week after flouting party orders.
He wanted to contest the seat but the party opted to field Kastor Chand Meena. A disgruntled Meena then said he would stand as an independent candidate with support from the Bharat Adivasi Party.
The Deoli-Uniara by-poll was triggered after Harish Chandra Meena, who won the seat in the 2018 and 2023 Assembly elections, was elected to the Lok Sabha in the April-June general election.
Deoli-Uniara is within the Tonk Lok Sabha constituency, which Harish Meena won and in which senior Congress leader and ex Deputy Chief Minister, Sachin Pilot, is seen to have significant sway.
