A day after arrest of independent candidate Naresh Meena, Tonk Collector Saumya Jha visited Samravta village – where violence had broken out during Deoli-Uniara bypolls. Naresh meena has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.
Jha said that she tried to contact Naresh Meena to pacify him the moment she came to know that Naresh Meena, along with his supporters is putting up dharna in the village demanding presence of collector.
“I called Naresh Meena at least four times. But he (Naresh Meena) didn't pick up the call. Even I asked SDM Amit Choudhary to approach him and make him talk to me on his (Choudhary's) phone. But he didn't speak,” Jha said.
Jha said that she was aware of the demand of villagers to attach Samrawta with Uniara tehsil instead of Deoli tehsil.
The entire village had boycotted voting to press their demand. When SDM and area magistrate Amit Choudhary tried to persuade villagers to vote, Naresh Meena attacked him and slapped him publicly, which created uproar and violence in the village leaving more than 50 injured.
“We will try to fulfill the demand of villagers once the election code of conduct is over,” Jha said.
She said that Naresh Meena wanted a written assurance about fulfilling the demand of villagers.
“My duty was to conduct free and fair elections. I can't give any written assurance as the district electoral officer. It is clear violation of code of conduct. So I was trying to reach out to Naresh Meena and tell him that the demand would be met after the expiry of CoC.
The violence was preplanned
Saumya Jha alleged that the violence was pre planned and was created to align political interest with sentiments of villagers.
“We have detained 60 people in this case. More than 50 are outsiders who torched vehicles and were indulged in violence including Naresh Meena. It was staged managed to polish politics of someone,” she said.
She said that the villagers had genuine demands.
“The matter was between the villagers, their SDM and their collector. The demands of villagers were co-opted by Naresh Meena and was used to serve political purpose,” she said.
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