BAGHPAT: A 26-year-old member of the President’s Bodyguard was shot in the head following an argument over bursting firecrackers in his village in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district, police said. He is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Meerut after an operation to remove the bullet.
Saurabh Tomar, posted at Rashtrapati Bhavan and a member of the force since 2021, had returned to his village, Gopalpur Khadana, on leave for Diwali. The incident took place on Sunday night when he was bursting firecrackers outside his house with his brothers, Vineet and Mintu.
According to the complaint filed by his family, two neighbours, identified as Dheeraj and Monu alias Praveen, confronted the brothers and allegedly began abusing them. The argument escalated into a fight, during which Dheeraj allegedly pulled out a country-made pistol and fired.
The bullet first struck a wall before hitting Tomar behind the ear and lodging in his head, the complaint stated. His brothers were allegedly assaulted when they tried to protect him. The accused fled after threatening to kill the family, according to the complaint.
Tomar was initially taken to the Community Health Centre in Baraut and referred to Meerut Medical College. His family later shifted him to a private hospital in Meerut, where doctors operated to remove the bullet. He remains in the ICU, with reports describing his condition as critical.
Police have registered an FIR at Ramala police station against Dheeraj and Monu on the complaint of Tomar’s father, Janakraj.
Baghpat Police said a team had been formed to arrest the accused and that raids were being conducted at possible locations. No arrests had been made at the time of reporting.
(With inputs from media reports)