Congress rebel Naresh Meena was arrested on Thursday, a day after he slapped an SDM during bypolls in Rajasthan's Tonk district. Meena, who was contesting the bypolls as Independent was arrested while he was interacting with the media in Samravata village under Deoli Uniara assembly constituency.
The arrest comes amid tensions in the district after a mob of Meena's supporters pelted stones at the police on torched vehicles on Wednesday night.
Tonk Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan said Meena has been detained and will be arrested subsequently in connection with the violence that took place the previous day. He will be charged under relevant sections of the law, the SP said.
"He was asked to not take law into his hands and surrender. Initially he was not in the mood but seeing the police force, he agreed," Sangwan said. The arrest was made amid high-voltage drama that played live on television news channels while Meena was interacting with media personnel refusing to surrender initially.
Sangwan also said older records will be opened and arrests will be made accordingly. Several cases in the past have been registered agaisnt Meena on charges of obstructing official work, theft, harming public property among others.
Protesting Meena's arrest, his followers blocked the state highway setting a huge fire on the road which was later dispersed by the police.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot slammed the BJP government in the state over the incident saying there is no fear of law among people.
"...Why did a situation arise where an SDM was slapped? How did he (Independent MLA Naresh Meena) have the courage to do such a thing?" Gehlot questioned.
" The BJP has no tolerance towards suggestions from the Opposition. What has the state government done in this year?... When there is no fear among people, they take the law into their own hands, this is the situation in the entire state today...," he added.