The ruckus during the by-election polling in Rajasthan's Deoli-Uniyara (Tonk) assembly continued throughout the night. Independent candidate Naresh Meena slapped the SDM in Samravata village of the Assembly. After this, the villagers also tried to stop the polling parties after the polling time was over.
After this there was heavy stone pelting between the police and the villagers. The police also fired tear gas shells to deal with the miscreants. The enraged people also smashed SP Vikas Sangwan's car. Meanwhile, the police arrested Naresh Meena at 9 pm. As soon as Meena's supporters came to know about this, they were further enraged.
Hundreds of villagers surrounded the policemen and rescued Meena. At around 9.30 am on Thursday, Naresh Meena suddenly reached Samravata village and accused the police of assault. Meena said- I am not going to run away, I am ready to get arrested. Police conducted raids in Samarawata village and surrounding areas throughout the night on Wednesday. So far 60 people have been arrested. More than 50 villagers and policemen have been injured in this incident.
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) Association has started a strike demanding the arrest of Naresh Meena. Officials across the state have stopped working today.
Villagers alleged that the policemen torched several vehicles in the village and abducted their children. Over 100 people left the village due to overnight police raids. Even on Thursday morning, the police are busy searching for the accused. Also, the search for Naresh Meena is going on. However, late on Wednesday night, Naresh Meena shared a post on X and wrote – I am fine.
Pictures of stone pelting and fire in Deoli-Uniyara…
Naresh Meena's supporters set fire to vehicles. Villagers alleged that 50 to 60 vehicles were burnt.
At 6.30 am on Thursday, STF and police personnel patrolled Samrawata village and surrounding areas.
Naresh Meena's supporters pelted stones on the police on Wednesday night. On Wednesday night, there was chaos at the place due to stone pelting.
Villagers injured in stone pelting on Wednesday night were admitted to hospitals in Deoli and Tonk.
There are only women in the village. The men ran away
The people of Samrawata village are still scared after this incident. 60-70 youths of the village are missing. Goods and vehicles were burnt outside the houses. Families are searching for their children. Villagers alleged that police, STF, RAC personnel barged into their houses and beat them. Many youths saved their lives by jumping into the lake near the protest site and reaching the other side.
Many people ran to the fields to save themselves. 10 policemen and more than 50 villagers have been injured in the entire commotion. Meanwhile, after the violence escalated on Wednesday night, Ajmer Range IG Omprakash reached Tonk and took information about the entire incident. According to police officials, 60 people have been arrested in this case. A case has also been registered against Naresh Meena and others.
Villagers sat on a dharna throughout the day in Samravata village on Wednesday. They alleged that the system was not listening to them.
Why the uproar?
Villagers said that Samravata village of Kacharavata gram panchayat was shifted from Uniyara taluka to Nagar Fort taluka about one and a half years ago. The SDM office was shifted to Deoli. The distance to Devali is about 100 kms while the distance to Nagar Fort is 25 to 30 kms. Since then the opposition started.
The villagers were demanding to shift the tehsil and SDM headquarters to Uniyara. Because of this, voting in the assembly elections was also boycotted. On Wednesday, when their demands were not met, they sat on dharna 200 meters away from the polling station. When the independent candidate Naresh Meena came to know about this, he also reached the dharna and sat there along with the villagers.
Naresh Meena alleged that he reached the venue when he got information about forced voting. The employee present there misbehaved. After this I slapped. Naresh Meena threatened that if any employee acts as an agent of BJP, he will also face the same fate.
RAS Association threatened strike
The RAS association is also upset over the incident of slapping SDM Amit Chaudhary. The chief election officer Naveen Mahajan arrived on Wednesday under the leadership of association official Mahaveer Kharadi. After which the CMO went. The CMO also submitted an application letter to Chief Minister Shikhar Agarwal.
The RAS Association also warned that all RAS would go on strike from Thursday if Naresh Meena is not arrested. On the other hand, organizations such as Rajasthan Tehsildar Seva Parishad (Senior), Rajasthan Patwar Union, Secretariat Employees Sangh etc. have also demanded the arrest of Naresh.
related to by-elections…
1. Lower turnout than 2023 in 6 seats in by-elections: 12 percent lower turnout in Dausa, highest turnout in Ramgarh-Khinwasar
The voting percentage for by-elections to seven seats in Rajasthan on Wednesday is staggering. Out of these, the turnout was lower in 6 seats as compared to the 2023 assembly elections. While among these seven, the highest voter turnout of more than 75 percent took place in Khinvasar and Ramgarh seats.
2. Independent candidate beats up SDM in Deoli-Uniyara: Crowd gathers near booth in Ramgarh, police disperse; 69.29% polling was done on 7 seats
Many controversies also surfaced during the day-long voting. Independent candidate Naresh Meena slapped SDM Amit Chaudhary in Deoli-Uniyara assembly constituency. Meena also had a scuffle with the police officers present there. Naresh Meena is accused of forcibly entering the polling station.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
