Army Soldier Serving at Rashtrapati Bhavan Shot During Dispute in Uttar Pradesh

A soldier serving in the President’s Bodyguard was shot in the head Sunday night during a dispute over firecrackers in the Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, according to local police.

Saurabh Tomar, 26, was visiting his native village of Gopalpur Khadana for the Diwali holiday when neighbors Dheeraj and Monu allegedly confronted him and his brother, Vineet, outside their home.

The confrontation escalated when Dheeraj allegedly fired a country-made pistol, with the bullet ricocheting off a wall before striking Tomar in the head near his ear, police said.

Vineet Tomar also sustained serious head injuries after being struck with a stick during the attack, according to reports from the Baghpat police.

The injured soldier was transported to a hospital in Meerut for surgery to remove the bullet. Medical officials reported on Monday that he is stable and out of danger.

The President’s Bodyguard is the senior-most cavalry regiment in the Indian Army, responsible for ceremonial and security duties at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Tomar’s father, Janakraj, filed a formal complaint alleging that the suspects harbored a long-standing grudge against the family, which served as the catalyst for the violent encounter.

“Saurabh and Vineet were bursting crackers when the accused arrived and attacked them. They have an old enmity with our family,” said Janakraj, the father of the victim.

Police have registered a case against the two brothers under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including attempted murder and criminal intimidation.

Authorities have deployed three police teams to locate the suspects, who fled the scene immediately following the incident and remain at large as of Monday evening.

“The accused are at large at the moment and our teams are continuously raiding their possible hideouts. We will nab the culprits soon,” said Rakesh Sharma, the Ramala station house officer.

Investigators are continuing to search for the suspects while monitoring the recovery of the two brothers, who remain under medical care in Meerut.