MEERUT: A Diwali-night altercation between two families in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat turned violent after a dispute outside a house escalated into gunfire, leaving jawan serving in the President’s Bodyguard with a bullet lodged in his head and his brother injured.The jawan, Saurabh Tomar (28), was visiting his native village, Gopalpur Khadana, under Ramala police station limits, on leave to celebrate Diwali.He is posted with the elite President’s Bodyguard regiment at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.According to police and the complaint filed by Saurabh’s father, Janakraj Singh Tomar, the incident took place around 10pm on Sunday, when Saurabh and his brother Vineet were outside their house bursting firecrackers.An argument reportedly broke out between the brothers and two fellow villagers, Dheeraj and Monu alias Praveen, who are sons of Inderpal and residents of the same village.While the dispute was reportedly linked to an old rivalry between the families, the exact sequence of events leading to the firing is being investigated.
Bullet hits wall, ricochets into jawan’s head
As the altercation escalated, one of the accused allegedly pulled out a country-made pistol and opened fire at the brothers. The bullet struck a nearby wall before ricocheting and hitting Saurabh in the head, just behind his ear.The accused allegedly attacked Vineet with a stick, hitting him on the head, before fleeing the spot. They also allegedly threatened to kill the brothers, according to the complaint.Family members rushed the injured men to a community health centre in Baraut, from where Saurabh was referred for specialised treatment in Meerut. He was subsequently admitted to a private hospital, where doctors performed surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his head.Saurabh was initially reported to be in critical condition and kept in the intensive care unit. However, after the surgery, doctors declared him stable and out of danger. His brother Vineet is also undergoing treatment.
Father names two villagers in complaint
Following a written complaint by Janakraj, Ramala police registered an FIR against Dheeraj and Monu alias Praveen under sections 109(1) (attempt to murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Police said the accused were absconding and teams had been conducting raids to trace them.CO, Baraut Circle, Anshu Jain said police received information about the shooting and the assault on Saurabh’s brother around 10pm on November 8. A team immediately reached the village and inspected the scene.“Three police teams have been formed and are actively working to apprehend the suspects. They will be arrested soon, and the necessary legal proceedings will follow,” Jain said.Baghpat Police also said in a statement on X that the bullet had ricocheted off a wall before hitting Saurabh, who serves in the Rashtrapati Bhavan security. The police reiterated that both injured men were stable and receiving treatment in Meerut.
Who is Saurabh Tomar
Saurabh, a native of Gopalpur Khadana, joined the Indian Army in 2021 after clearing the stringent physical requirements for induction into the President’s Bodyguard (PBG). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, he was selected for the regiment’s mounted wing, according to his uncle Netrapal Tomar.The President’s Bodyguard is the Indian Army’s senior-most regiment in the order of precedence and is stationed at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.The elite cavalry unit performs ceremonial escort and security duties for the President of India.Its personnel take part in mounted ceremonial displays and are also equipped with armoured vehicles for operational deployment.