Jaipur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan has come under fire from the opposition Congress after a head constable posted in a police station in the state’s Ajmer district has alleged that he was suspended and assaulted on the directions of a ruling party MLA for speaking against illegal mining.The police have, however, denied the allegations and claimed that the head constable was suspended after he was allegedly threatening people in an inebriated state.The incident came to light after a video went viral on social media, wherein head constable Rajesh Kumar Meena, posted in the Kekri Sadar police station is heard accusing the station house officer (SHO) of the police station Jagdish Prasad and Kekri BJP MLA Shatrughan Gautam of harassing him.“On January 5, the SHO told me to reach at a spot where a person had died while engaging in illegal mining with a dumper. After reaching the spot, I told the SHO that there were four tractors and two JCBs. I told the SHO that there was a risk of a fight breaking out where people could be harmed along with arson. The SHO did not arrive till three hours and after reaching he told me to let the men go. I told him that I can’t let them go, my video has gone viral and I don’t do illegal mining …you may take money (bribe) but I don’t,” Meena is heard saying in the video in Hindi.पुलिस थाना केकड़ी सदर (अजमेर) में तैनात ये ASI राजेश मीणा जी हैं, जिन्हें अवैध खनन रोकने पर बुरी तरह पीटा गया, इनाम के तौर पर विभाग से संस्पेंशन मिला… क्योंकि इन्होंने भाजपा नेताओं के संरक्षण में चल रहे अवैध खनन पर हाथ डालने की हिम्मत की है।ये सिर्फ एक पुलिसकर्मी पर हमला… pic.twitter.com/9vRGvMcdDk— Govind Singh Dotasra (@GovindDotasra) January 6, 2026“Thereafter I brought all the JCBs and tractors to the police station. But MLA Shatrughan Gautam put pressure on me and told me that he will ensure I am terminated from my job. I told him that I didn’t get the job as a charity and I got it because of my competence. I got 20 phone calls from the MLA and his men. In the night when I was going to meet my relatives just one kilometre away from the police station, I was stopped by his men and they assaulted me. I had to get four stitches on my head, my fingers were broken. This is the humiliation of the police. You tell me, have I done anything wrong?” Meena mentions in the video.As the video was widely circulated on social media, the opposition Congress slammed the chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP government in the state, accusing BJP leaders of protecting criminals.“This isn’t just an attack on a policeman, it’s a direct attack on the rule of law. With the connivance of BJP leaders and senior police officers, criminals are being protected, and police officers performing their duties are being harassed and humiliated,” Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra posted on X on Tuesday (January 6).“The police uniform is being trampled upon, and the government is sitting as a mute spectator. Has the BJP government completely surrendered to illegal mining?” Dotasra added.Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot too posted on X about the incident and said that under BJP’s rule, dictatorial attitude is being used against police personnel so that the mafia can get a free hand.Speaking to The Wire, Kekri circle officer and deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Harshit Sharma said that head constable Meena was suspended for assaulting and threatening people in a drunken state.“On the night of January 5, Meena went near the Kekri hospital in a drunken state and assaulted innocent people, even threatening them with his official pistol. Thereafter an FIR was registered against him by the victims on January 6 following which he was suspended. He made the video to shield himself. As for his allegations, the SHO had seized the vehicles used in mining and thereafter in an investigation by the mining department it was found that mining was being done legally by lease holders. The mining department wrote to the police to release the vehicles,” said DSP Sharma.Sharma said that prima facie no truth has been found in Meena’s allegations against BJP MLA Gautam.“Meena is presently absconding and investigation is being conducted in the FIR registered against him,” said Sharma.Efforts to reach Meena and MLA Gautam were unsuccessful as their phones were switched off.Activists have criticised the incident, alleging collusion between politicians and the illegal mining mafia.“There is collusion between politicians, police personnel and those involved in illegal mining. Whenever someone highlights such incidents, they are framed in false cases. What can a constable do?” said activist Kailash Mina of the Aravalli Virasat Jan Abhiyaan which is spreading awareness against illegal mining.