JAIPUR: Tension escalated in the Deoli-Uniara assembly constituency of Tonk district after police took independent candidate Naresh Meena into custody around Thursday noon. Incidents of protesters pelting stones at police personnel and security forces firing tear gas shells at them were reported from some areas after the arrest. In some places, media persons too were targeted by unruly mobs.
Meena had slapped a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) on election duty during bypoll voting at Samraota village on Wednesday. When he was first taken into custody Wednesday night, his supporters allegedly attacked the police vehicle carrying him and freed him. They torched police and private vehicles and pelted stones, injuring at least eight policemen.
According to police, four FIRs have been filed against Meena, including one by SDM Amit Chaudhary, who was slapped outside a polling booth in the constituency. The slapping incident had immediately snowballed into a major law and order issue.
On Thursday again, mobs clashed with police and security forces. Meena's supporters set govt vehicles on fire and blocked the Deoli-Uniara highway, NH 148D, NH 116 and several other roads connecting villages in the area, disrupting the movement of security forces and commuters.
Stones pelted at police The situation became chaotic as flames from burning tyres on highways became a common sight. As per local reports, about 50 people, including policemen, sustained injuries in postpoll violence since Wednesday evening.
Meena’s supporters hid behind crops in agricultural farms and began pelting stones at policemen and security forces passing by.
ADGP (law & order) Vishal Bansal, who has camped in the area, said at least 60 people were arrested, with more to follow. Those arrested were being booked for arson, rioting, damaging public property, and other offences. Over 600 security personnel have been deployed in the area.
National Highway 116, connecting Tonk with Sawai Madhopur, was blocked in Aligarh. Cabinet minister Kirori Lal Meena reached the spot to placate Meena's supporters, but they didn’t budge. Several state roadways buses and commuters were stranded following the traffic jam on highways.
Govt and private schools in the area were closed down. Some protesters tried to enter a govt school and pelted stones at people inside. Eyewitnesses reported several incidents of local residents being harassed by Meena's supporters.
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