Violence Erupts in Rajasthan’s Tonk District After Independent Candidate Assaults SDM

Tonk, Rajasthan :A violent incident unfolded on Wednesday in the Samravata village of Deoli-Uniyara in Rajasthan’s Tonk district, leading to clashes between police and supporters of Independent candidate Naresh Meena, who allegedly assaulted Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Amit Chaudhary at a polling station. The chaos resulted in stone-pelting, vehicle arson, and at least 60 arrests, with the authorities taking swift action to restore order.

The situation escalated when Naresh Meena, a candidate in the ongoing Deoli-Uniyara assembly bypolls, reportedly slapped SDM Amit Chaudhary at a polling station in Samravata. According to the Ajmer range Inspector-General of Police, Om Prakash, this incident triggered a violent outburst from Meena’s supporters. Stone pelting ensued, followed by the setting of vehicles, including police cars, on fire. Several four-wheelers and two-wheelers were damaged or completely destroyed during the clash.
The violence intensified as tensions grew, leading to the deployment of additional police forces to control the situation. Tonk's Additional Superintendent of Police (SP), Brijendra Singh Bhati, confirmed that the authorities were assessing the extent of the damage caused by the riot. A total of 60 individuals were arrested in connection with the violence.

Naresh Meena, responding to the incident, refuted any wrongdoing on the part of his supporters. He claimed that the district collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP) were to blame for the unrest. “All 60 people who have been arrested are innocent. If anyone should be punished, it should be me,” he said in a statement.
Meena also took to social media, addressing his supporters and followers. “Main theek hu… na dare the na darenge, aage ki ranniti bata di jayegi,” he wrote on platform X, which translates to, "I am fine… I am not scared and will never be, will inform about further plans."

Local authorities, including the SP Vikas Sangwan, provided further details on the incident. Sangwan explained that the incident occurred when Meena entered the polling station, where officials were attempting to manage a voting boycott. Meena allegedly assaulted the SDM during the presence of key district officials, including the Tehsildar and Additional SP.

Following the altercation, Meena was removed from the premises by the Additional SP, and voting resumed peacefully after a brief pause. However, the tensions remained high, with authorities ensuring increased police presence to prevent further violence.
SP Sangwan confirmed that legal action would be taken against Meena, emphasizing that the situation was under control. "Action will be taken against him as per the law. We arrived at the spot and spoke to the villagers, after which voting resumed peacefully," he assured.

The situation in Samravata village remains tense, with authorities continuing to monitor the area for any further escalation. As of now, the police have detained several individuals, including Meena’s supporters, and are assessing the damage caused during the clashes.
The incident has drawn attention to the increasingly volatile nature of election-related protests in Rajasthan, with authorities urging citizens to maintain peace and refrain from violent actions.