A 40-year-old tour guide, who was stabbed following an altercation near Jaipur’s Amer Fort on Monday, died at SMS Hospital on Tuesday morning, triggering protests and a shutdown of the Amer market.

Manish Kumar Soni, a resident of Amer, had been taken to the ICU after being stabbed in the abdomen on Monday.

According to ACP (Amer) Prateek Singh, the incident took place near Maota Lake around 9.30 am when a group of tourists arriving in a private car asked for directions to Amer Fort.

Azam, a jeep driver stationed in the area, allegedly told the tourists that private vehicles could not go up to the fort and suggested that they hire a jeep.

But Manish, who was at the spot, explained the route to the tourists, after which they proceeded to the fort in their private vehicle. This allegedly led to an argument between Manish and Azam.

“There has been an ongoing dispute between the jeep drivers and the tourist guides in the Amer area. Manish and Azam got into an argument over this, and the former was stabbed… We have arrested the accused and due process will be followed,” said Singh.

Manish died around 7 am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment in the ICU, police said.

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News of his death spread quickly through Amer, with shopkeepers voluntarily shutting the local market and residents gathering on the streets. Several people, including members of Manish’s family, staged a sit-in protest and raised slogans demanding justice.

Protesters demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for a member of his family. Some also demanded that the accused’s house be demolished.

Residents of Amer had on Monday blocked the road for nearly one-and-a-half hours. Following Manish’s death, police from Amer police station and nearby areas were deployed in the locality as crowds gathered.

Police officials said the situation was brought under control after discussions with the protesters. Further action in the case is underway.