On 10 July 2024, an employee of an Angadia firm was robbed near Law Garden in the Ellis Bridge area of ​​Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. The employee who was travelling in a rickshaw was attacked by some unknown persons who threw chilly flakes in the eyes of the employee, snatched the bag full of lakhs of rupees and escaped. Ahmedabad city crime branch rounded up two Islamists, Zafar Iqbal Rangrez (38) and Muhammad Javed (38), from near Danilimda. Police interrogated the duo, leading to significant revelations.

Around 36.50 lakhs worth of goods seized from the accused

ACP Bharat Patel said that both accused, Zafar Iqbal Rangrez (38) and Muhammad Javed (38) have been arrested in this case. The accused had planned to loot the employees of the Angadia firm. A total of 36.50 lakh worth of goods has been seized from the accused. In interrogation, the accused has confessed to a total of 3 crimes, including Activa theft and two robberies. The accused looted 40 lakhs, of which Rs. 4 lakhs were already spent to pay off their debts.

Preliminary police investigation and interrogation of the accused revealed that to carry out the robbery, the accused had stolen a white Activa from the Riverfront Ravivari market, painted it black with spray paint, and carried out the theft by attaching a false number plate. The air gun, which was shown to the Angadia employees while carrying out the robbery, was also ordered online by accused Javed some time ago.

The investigation also revealed that their first attempt was not successful. On the day before the actual robbery was carried out, i.e., on 9 July, both the accused tried to commit the theft. However, the Activa did not start, preventing them from executing their robbery plans.

Further, it came to light that for the last three months, both the accused were standing under the Jamalpur Bridge and doing surveillance to carry out the robbery. They observed in which vehicle the Angadia firm employees came and how they returned with money. After carrying out the theft, both the accused reached the Fatewadi area, changed the clothes they wore at the time of the robbery and kept them in the Activa. After this, both the accused reached their respective homes using different rickshaws. Both the accused changed rickshaws twice to reach their house and got down from the rickshaw a short distance away to avoid the CCTV cameras.

The accused had robbed another Angadia firm earlier

Further investigation by the police has revealed that both accused had committed another robbery in January 2023. In this incident, an employee of an Angadia firm was struck with a wooden object in the Jamalpur area, resulting in a theft of 28 lakhs. They had also used a stolen Activa for that robbery.

The police scanned footage from nearly 400 CCTV cameras, said a crime branch official. Reportedly, the police have handed over the custody of both Islamists to the Ellis Bridge Police regarding the entire case. Further investigation is underway.

(Featured Image Source: Ahmedabad Mirror)