Three Labourers Robbed and Assaulted by Five Men Near Ahmedabad Airport, 4 Arrested

Three labourers were allegedly assaulted and robbed by a group of five unidentified men near the Airport police station limits in Ahmedabad in the early hours of Monday, police said. The assailants allegedly attacked the victims with metal bracelets, sticks and belts before fleeing with cash and mobile phones worth more than ₹62,000.

Noman Khan Sheikh, 31, a native of Bihar who resides in Chharanagar, Kubernagar, stated that the incident took place at around 4.15 am on August 3 near Bhadreshwar bus stand on the public road opposite Limbadia.

Noman told police that he and his friends, Zahid Aqibul Alam and Sohil Waris Alam, work at a roadside food stall in Chharanagar. After finishing work at around 1 am, the trio returned to their rented accommodation before deciding to go out for breakfast at around 3 am on a scooter belonging to their employer.

Mobile Phone Fall Led to Confrontation

The complainant stated that while they were travelling towards an eatery near Dwarkesh Hotel close to the airport, Sohil’s mobile phone accidentally fell onto the road. As the scooter was stopped and Sohil got down to retrieve the handset, two scooters carrying five unidentified men arrived from behind.

The men, believed to be between 20 and 25 years of age, confronted Sohil without any apparent provocation and began arguing with him. When Noman and Zahid intervened, the group allegedly turned violent.

One of the assailants struck Noman on the back of his head and the left side of his chest with a metal bracelet, causing bleeding injuries. Another attacker allegedly hit Sohil on the back of his head with a similar object, while Zahid sustained an injury to the left side of his head. The group then allegedly assaulted all three victims with sticks and belts.

Cash and Mobile Phones Snatched

Police said the assailants also robbed the victims before fleeing. According to the complaint, they snatched Noman’s Oppo mobile phone worth around ₹4,000 and ₹17,000 in cash from his pocket. Sohil was allegedly robbed of his Vivo mobile phone worth approximately ₹4,000 and ₹33,000 in cash, while Zahid was deprived of ₹5,000 in cash.

Fearing for their lives, the three men fled the scene and contacted their employer, identified as Pintubhai, who reached the spot and alerted the police through the emergency 112 helpline.

FIR Registered, CCTV Footage Under Scanner

The victims initially did not lodge a complaint as they were suffering from dizziness and head injuries and first sought medical treatment. They later approached the Airport Police Station to register an FIR against the unidentified assailants.

Four Arrested

Acting on the information, the police conducted a raid near the Limbadia settlement close to the Bhadreshwar three-way junction and apprehended four accused.

The arrested have been identified as:

• Abhi Prakashbhai Ghatad (Bhil) (23)
• Ayush Maheshbhai Surti (18)
• Dhanush Kiritbhai Surti (25)
• Pratik Vijaybhai Dantani (22)

Police recovered two mobile phones valued at ₹8,000, ₹49,000 in cash, two metal bangles allegedly used in the assault, and two two-wheelers used in the commission of the crime, taking the total value of the seized valuables to ₹63,000.

Investigators also revealed that one of the accused, Dhanush Kiritbhai Surti, has a criminal record. Previous cases registered against him include assault-related offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, offences under the Gujarat Police Act, and prohibition cases registered at both the Airport Police Station and Modasa Town Police Station.

Police said further investigation is underway to trace the fifth accused and establish his role in the robbery.