Independent candidate who slapped SDM arrested, 60 detained

Jaipur: Following violence in the Deoli-Uniara constituency during the bypolls, Rajasthan police detained about 60 individuals for rioting. Independent candidate Naresh Meena faced demands for a judicial inquiry and was arrested on Thursday afternoon after a chaotic incident where he slapped the SDM during voting at Samravata village.

The altercation escalated into heavy stone pelting between villagers and police, leading to ongoing violence throughout the night. Over 50 individuals suffered injuries, and police responded with tear gas to control the situation. In the chaos, the car of SP Vikas Sangwan was also damaged.

Meena was taken into custody around 9 PM, which incited further unrest among his supporters, resulting in a large group of villagers surrounding police to free him. Following this, police conducted raids in Samravata and its surrounding areas overnight.

As of now, 60 individuals have been arrested, and numerous villagers and police officers were reported injured. Villagers claimed that police set fire to vehicles and detained many young people, prompting over 100 residents to flee the village.

On Thursday morning, police were still searching for Meena, who had evaded capture after being rescued by his supporters. He later posted on X stating he was safe. In his first media statement on Thursday, Meena reiterated his intention to surrender and called for a judicial inquiry, criticizing the police for their harsh actions. He added that if the Collector had visited the scene earlier, the situation might have been avoided.

Earlier, Additional SP of Tonk, Brijendra Singh Bhati, reported that investigations were ongoing regarding the incidents of damage and that they were actively searching for Meena.