Rajasthan: PTI says its reporter, crew ‘assaulted by mob’, camera ‘snatched and burnt’

A PTI reporter and cameraperson were assaulted by a mob in Rajasthan’s Tonk on Thursday while covering a protest over the arrest of Independent MLA candidate Naresh Meena, as per the news agency. 

The reporter identified as Ajeet Shekhawat and cameraperson Dharmendra Kumar were injured, and their camera was reportedly snatched and set on fire. The PTI posted a picture on X of Shekhawat bleeding from under his left eye and Dharmendra with a head injury on the hospital bed. As per the news agency, the latter also sustained a broken arm. 

Both the journalists were reportedly rushed to a private hospital in Sawai Madhopur in a colleague’s vehicle.   

The two came under attack while trying to interview state agriculture minister Kirodi Lal Meena, who was at the spot to speak with the protesters. The PTI report said that after the attack, the Chief Minister’s office instructed senior police officers to provide security cover to the injured journalists.

Cameraperson Kumar told Times of India that his camera was smashed to pieces and set on fire during the attack. “Ajeet and I were ready to take the interview of cabinet minister Kirori Lal Meena who had come to the spot. I set my camera angle and was ready to shoot when a mob attacked me.”

The TOI report said that other journalists covering the protest reported receiving threats.

Naresh Meena, a Congress rebel and independent candidate in Tonk bypolls, was arrested on Wednesday after he slapped SDM Malpura Amit Chaudhary, who was on election duty.

Chaudhary was reportedly trying to get more people to vote, while the locals boycotted polling over a demand to include Samravta village in the Uniara sub-division instead of Deoli. Meena was in support of the villagers. Following Meena’s arrest, many of his supporters have been sitting in protest.  

Small teams can do great things. All it takes is a subscription. Subscribe now and power Newslaundry’s work.

Support our coverage of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls. Click here to contribute to our new NL Sena project.