President’s Bodyguard soldier shot in Baghpat during Deepavali celebrations

A 26‑year‑old soldier serving in the elite President’s Bodyguard regiment was injured by gunfire in his native village of Gopalpur Khadana, Baghpat district, on the night of Deepavali. He was on leave and was lighting firecrackers outside his house with his brothers Vineet and Mintu when an argument erupted with two local men, Dheeraj and his brother Monu, also known as Praveen. At about 9:45 p.m., the men fired a bullet that bounced off a wall and struck the soldier just behind the ear. Vineet received a head injury after being struck with a stick. The soldier, identified as Saurabh Tomar, was rushed to a private hospital in Meerut, where doctors performed surgery and reported his condition as stable. His brother’s injuries are also being treated. Janak Raj, the soldier’s father, lodged a complaint at Ramala police station. Police recorded an FIR and have set up three separate teams to locate the accused, who have not been apprehended yet. The President’s Bodyguard is the oldest cavalry regiment in the Indian Army and is stationed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Context

Such incidents highlight the risks soldiers may face in their hometowns, especially during festive gatherings, and show how local disputes can quickly turn violent.