Guide dies after stabbing near Amber Fort; accused arrested, locals protest
Jaipur — A 40-year-old tourist guide sustained a fatal stab wound after an altercation near Amber Fort and died at SMS Hospital on Tuesday morning, police said. The incident triggered a local shutdown at Amer market as residents and family members protested and demanded immediate action and assistance for the bereaved household.
Police identified the deceased as Manish Soni, a resident of Amber. According to Amber police, the confrontation started on Monday at Maotha when tourists travelling in a private car asked for directions to Amber Fort. A jeep operator, named Azam, allegedly told the tourists private cars were not permitted to drive up and tried to persuade them to take his vehicle instead.
- After Soni explained the route, the tourists proceeded in their car, which led to a dispute between Soni and Azam, the Amber SHO Rajendra Godara said.
- During the altercation, Azam allegedly produced a knife and stabbed Soni in the abdomen, police added.
- Soni was taken to SMS Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit, where he died during treatment on Tuesday.
Police said they apprehended Azam after the incident. The SHO, Rajendra Godara, reported that local residents shut shops in the Amer market after news of Soni's death and staged a protest. The agitating crowd was later pacified and the family consented to a post-mortem; the body will be handed over to relatives after formalities, the SHO said.
"The body will be handed over to family after the post-mortem," Amber SHO Rajendra Godara said.
Family demands justice and support
Soni's wife, Poonam Soni, appealed for strict action against the accused and for material support to raise her children. She said she had submitted written demands to the administration seeking compensation and a government job to secure her daughters’ future, and urged the authorities to ensure that the accused are punished.
"I only want justice and my daughters’ rights... I want financial compensation and a government job to support my children and their education," Poonam Soni said.
Meanwhile, Balmukund Acharya, the BJP MLA from the Hawa Mahal constituency, condemned the killing and assured the family of firm action. "The accused has committed a grave crime. There is no caste, creed, or religion involved; an accused is an accused, whoever he may be," he said, adding that the family’s demands would be taken up with the Chief Minister.
Local impact and official response
The area around Amber Fort is a hub of tourist activity in Jaipur and such incidents raise immediate concerns about visitor safety and the security of local guides and operators. The shutdown of Amer market following the killing affected routine commerce in the historic neighbourhood until protesters were pacified by police, authorities said.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Manish Soni, 40, resident of Amber |
| Accused | Azam (arrested) |
| Location | Maotha/area near Amber Fort, Amer |
| Hospital | SMS Hospital (admitted to ICU; died during treatment) |
| Authorities | Amber SHO Rajendra Godara; BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya |
Police and local representatives stated that investigation is under way. The family has sought both legal redress and state support; local leaders said they would press the demand list with the state administration. No figures on compensation or timelines for police action were provided by officials at the time of reporting.
This episode underscores tensions that can arise around tourist movement and local commercial interests in Jaipur's heritage precincts. Authorities have been urged by residents to ensure both rapid inquiry into the killing and measures to prevent similar clashes near heavily visited monuments.
