Search continues for suspects after Army jawan shot during festival dispute

UPDATE - follow-up to Army jawan posted with President's Bodyguard shot in U.P.; condition stable: Three police teams are actively searching for two local men accused of shooting an Army jawan and injuring his brother in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district during Deepavali.

Investigation Update

The targeted soldier, 26-year-old Saurabh Tomar, remains in stable condition after undergoing surgery at a private hospital in Meerut to remove a bullet that struck him behind the ear. The incident occurred on Sunday night, November 8, 2026, when Mr. Tomar was bursting firecrackers outside his home in Gopalpur Khadana village alongside his brothers Vineet and Mintu. An argument broke out with two neighbours, identified as Dheeraj and his brother Monu alias Praveen, stemming from an old rivalry. Police stated that the suspects fired a shot which ricocheted off a wall and hit Mr. Tomar, while Vineet sustained severe head injuries from a stick attack.

Police Action

The victim's father, Janak Raj, filed a formal complaint at the Ramala police station, prompting authorities to register a case immediately. Three dedicated police teams are currently working to apprehend the two accused individuals, who remain at large. Mr. Tomar joined the military in 2021 and serves in the President's Bodyguard regiment at Rashtrapati Bhavan, having returned to his home village on leave for the festival.

Context

The President's Bodyguard is the senior-most cavalry regiment of the Indian Army, tasked with security duties at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Incidents involving off-duty security personnel visiting their home towns often draw heightened local attention and swift police response.