PTI reporter, cameraperson assaulted by mob in Tonk, camera snatched and burnt
Tonk (Rajasthan) (PTI): A PTI reporter and video cameraperson were beaten up and injured by a mob during a violent rampage in Tonk district on Thursday while they were covering a protest following the arrest of Independent MLA candidate Naresh Meena.
The attack left reporter Ajeet Shekhawat and cameraperson Dharmendra Kumar badly injured. Their camera was also snatched and set on fire by the mob.
In a selfie video sent by Shekhawat to the head office in Delhi, he could be seen bleeding from under his bloodshot left eye.
Shekhawat told his editors that his colleague Dharmendra suffered a gash on the head and his arm may be broken. Both were rushed to a hospital in a colleague's vehicle.
The two came under attack when they were about to interview Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, who had gone to the troubled spot to assess the situation.
After the incident, the Chief Minister's Office instructed senior police officers to provide security cover to the injured PTI team. The CMO also instructed the chief medical and health officer (CMHO), Sawai Madhopur to ensure proper treatment for them.
After initial treatment at a private hospital in Sawai Madhopur, both the injured were referred to Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur where doctors have kept them under observation for a day. All necessary medical examinations were conducted by the trauma centre team.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel, Minister of State (Home) Jawahar Singh Bedham and the CM's media advisors Anand Sharma and Hiren Joshi visited the hospital to enquire about their well-being.
The ministers said that those who took the law into their hands will be identified and dealt with strictly under the law. Both the ministers condemned the attack.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot also condemned the assault on X and demanded strict action.
The violence has been going on since Wednesday evening when police tried to stop the supporters of Naresh Meena, a Congress rebel contesting as an Independent in the bypolls, from sitting on dharna.
On Wednesday, Naresh Meena slapped SDM Malpura Amit Chaudhary who was on election duty in full view of camera crews.
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Rajasthan: Situation in Tonk stable, says DM a day after MLA candidate's arrest, violence
Jaipur (PTI): The situation in Rajasthan's Tonk district, where an Independent candidate in the recent bypolls was arrested following a high drama and escalating violence, has stabilised and was under control, a senior official said on Friday.
A mob assaulted a PTI reporter and video cameraperson and burnt their camera on Thursday, a day after Congress rebel and Independent candidate Naresh Meena slapped Malpura SDM Amit Chaudhary outside a polling booth in front of hundreds of people.
The attack came while the PTI crew was covering a protest following Meena's arrest.
The Independent candidate will be produced before a court on Friday. Police have made tight security arrangements with heavy deployment of personnel in Tonk and the surrounding areas.
Tonk District Collector Soumya Jha said, "During polling on November 13, a candidate slapped the SDM while on election duty. The SDM filed an FIR then, but we did not disturb the candidate."
"After the polls ended and the polling party was leaving, the candidate tried to stop them. That's when the police intervened. The police attempted to resolve the situation, but the candidate initiated an assault," she told PTI.
"Some supporters caused disturbances in different areas, but now the situation has stabilised and everything is under control," the district collector added.
