New Delhi: The independent candidate Naresh Meena, who slapped an election official on camera during voting in Wednesday’s by-poll for Rajasthan’s Deoli-Uniara Assembly seat, was arrested Thursday 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
Meena’s arrest triggered more violent protests by his supporters, scores of whom gathered to block the highway outside the village of Samravata, which was where the ‘slap-gate’ incident took place.
A video posted on ANI showed dozens of cops in riot gear marching down the highway, skirting piles of burning straw scattered around them. “They were probably supporters of Meena. We have cleared the roadblock. The situation will be under control,” Brijendra Singh Bhati, Additional SP (Tonk), was quoted as saying.