Saurabh Tomar, who joined the Army in 2021, was home on Diwali leave when an argument with two villagers allegedly turned violent. Doctors have removed the bullet from the head of the jawan , but he remains in intensive care.
BY PC Bureau
November 11: An Army jawan serving with the President’s Bodyguard was shot in the head after an argument over bursting firecrackers escalated into a violent clash on Diwali night in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district.
The injured soldier, identified as 26-year-old Saurabh Tomar, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Meerut. His condition remains critical, according to reports.
Firecracker Dispute Escalates Into Gunfire
According to police and local residents, Tomar was bursting firecrackers outside his house with his brothers, Vineet and Mintu, when an argument broke out with two villagers, Dheeraj and his brother Monu alias Praveen.
The verbal altercation soon turned violent. During the confrontation, Dheeraj allegedly pulled out a country-made pistol and opened fire. One of the bullets reportedly struck a wall before hitting Tomar in the head, just behind his ear.
Tomar collapsed at the spot. Around the same time, Dheeraj’s brother allegedly arrived carrying a stick and attacked Vineet. Mintu, in turn, allegedly assaulted Monu with sticks during the ensuing clash.
The commotion triggered panic among people who had gathered at the scene. The accused subsequently fled.
Local residents said the two families knew each other and had shared friendly relations in the past. However, they had reportedly been involved in a dispute about two months earlier.
READ: Firecrackers Caused 80% of Delhi Pollution Load After Diwali: IITM
Jawan Had Returned Home on Diwali Leave
Tomar, who joined the Army in 2021, is currently posted at Rashtrapati Bhavan as a member of the President’s Bodyguard, the Army’s oldest and senior-most cavalry regiment.
He had returned to his native village on leave to celebrate Diwali with his family.
Following the shooting, his family rushed him to a Community Health Centre in Baraut. The jawan was subsequently referred to Meerut Medical College for advanced treatment, but his relatives decided to shift him to a private hospital in the city.
Doctors operated on Tomar and successfully removed the bullet from his head. He remains in the intensive care unit, with his condition described as critical.
FIR Registered, Police Search for Accused
Tomar’s father, Janak Raj, alerted the police by calling the emergency helpline shortly after the incident.
Police teams reached the village and launched an investigation. Senior officers, including the Circle Officer of Baraut and the Additional Superintendent of Police, visited the spot and inspected the scene.
Acting on a written complaint lodged by Janak Raj, police registered an FIR against Dheeraj and Monu alias Praveen.
The two accused are absconding, and police teams have launched a search operation to trace and arrest them.
