Ice gola vendor assaulted by six men over payment dispute in Ahmedabad

A 25-year-old ice gola vendor was allegedly assaulted by a group of six unidentified men in the early hours of Thursday at the Riverfront area in Ahmedabad. The accused, who reportedly objected to the vendor asking for payment for spoons the previous evening, attacked him with wooden sticks, leaving him with serious head and body injuries, police said.

The victim, Shanni Chauhan, a resident of Mansarovar Society in Chandkheda, is currently undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, where he remains admitted with head and body injuries. According to the complaint filed at Vasna police station, the incident took place around 12.15 am on May 16.

Chauhan, who runs an ice gola cart along with his wife and brother-in-law, stated that the previous evening, an unidentified man aged around 20-25, approached their cart near Vallabh Sadan at the Riverfront and demanded four spoons. When Chauhan asked for payment, the man allegedly refused, offering only ₹20 and using abusive language before leaving.

In his complaint, Chauhan alleged that later that night, six unidentified men, all aged between 20 and 25, arrived at the spot on two scooters. Two of them, both wearing white shirts and carrying wooden sticks, confronted Chauhan, accusing him of insulting their friend over spoon money. The group then allegedly attacked him with sticks, striking him repeatedly on his head, back, hip, and legs, while hurling abuses. Chauhan stated that despite his brother-in-law Abhishek and wife Rachna attempting to intervene, the attackers also assaulted a bystander who tried to rescue him.

The group fled the scene before emergency services arrived. Chauhan was rushed to the Civil Hospital by his wife and brother-in-law.

Doctors treating Chauhan noted deep injuries on his head requiring stitches, along with multiple injuries on his back, left hip, and right leg.

Based on Chauhan's complaint, Vasna police have registered a case against six unidentified persons under IPC sections for rioting, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, assault, and causing grievous hurt. "We are analysing CCTV footage from the area and trying to trace the accused based on the victim’s description and the vehicles used," a senior officer said.