A PTI reporter and cameraperson were brutally assaulted by a mob while covering a protest in Tonk district on Thursday, following the arrest of Independent MLA candidate Naresh Meena. The attack left reporter Ajeet Shekhawat and cameraperson Dharmendra Kumar severely injured, and their camera was snatched and set ablaze by the mob.
In a selfie video sent to the PTI head office in Delhi, Shekhawat appeared with a visible injury below his left eye, while Kumar sustained a deep cut on his head and a possible fracture in his arm. Both journalists were rushed to the hospital with the help of a colleague.
The assault occurred just as the two were preparing to interview Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena, who had arrived at the scene to assess the escalating unrest. The violence initially erupted on Wednesday evening when police attempted to prevent supporters of Naresh Meena, a Congress rebel running as an Independent, from staging a sit-in protest. The conflict intensified after Naresh Meena was caught on camera slapping SDM Malpura Amit Chaudhary, who was on election duty.
The PTI team’s traumatic experience highlights the risks journalists face in volatile political environments, sparking calls for stronger protections for press personnel in conflict zones.
