President’s Bodyguard member shot in head during firecracker dispute in UP
Saurabh Tomar is undergoing treatment in a Meerut hospital after a neighbour allegedly fired a country-made pistol during a Diwali argument.
A 26-year-old member of the President’s Bodyguard was shot in the head during a dispute over firecrackers in Gopalpur Khadana village, Uttar Pradesh, according to The Pioneer and Hindustan Times. Saurabh Tomar, who has been with the force since 2021 and is posted at Rashtrapati Bhavan, was home on leave for Diwali when the incident occurred on Sunday night.
The altercation began when two neighbours, identified as Dheeraj and Monu, also known as Praveen, allegedly confronted Tomar and his brothers, Vineet and Mintu, while they were bursting crackers. The dispute escalated when Dheeraj reportedly used a country-made pistol to fire a shot that hit a wall before striking Tomar behind the ear.
Tomar was taken to a community health centre in Baraut and later moved to a private hospital in Meerut, where surgeons operated to remove the bullet. While one report described his condition as critical, Baghpat Superintendent of Police Purnendu Singh stated that he is now stable.
The victim's father, Janakraj, filed a complaint at the Ramala police station, alleging that the accused also assaulted the brothers and threatened the family before fleeing. The family claimed there was a longstanding enmity with the neighbours.
Police have registered an FIR against Dheeraj and Monu. Ramala station house officer Rakesh Kumar Sharma said three police teams have been formed to locate and arrest the accused, and personnel have been deployed in the village to maintain order.