Ahmedabad/Mehsana, Aug 1 — The Ahmedabad Police's Local Crime Branch (LCB) Zone-7 has arrested two men who had been absconding for the past nine months in connection with cattle theft cases registered in the city and Mehsana, including one accused with a criminal record spanning 12 previous offences.
The arrests were made as part of a citywide drive launched by Ahmedabad Police to trace absconding accused and strengthen law and order.
Senior officials had directed officers to prepare a special action plan to apprehend wanted offenders and ensure strict security arrangements across the city.
Following these directions, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-7) Shivam Verma instructed police stations under his jurisdiction and the Local Crime Branch to intensify efforts using both human intelligence and technical surveillance to locate absconding suspects.
"During patrolling within the jurisdiction, Police Sub-Inspector H.D. Vaghela and his team acted on specific information received by Assistant Sub-Inspector Nashrullakhan Habibkhan, Head Constable Mahendrasinh Laxmansinh and Police Constable Irfan Kasambhai," officials said.
Based on the intelligence, officers traced and apprehended two alleged offenders from the Vejalpur police station area.
The accused have been identified as 39-year-old Mohammad Rafiq Bhatijiwala, also known as "Chhipa", a resident of Fatewadi in Sarkhej, and 50-year-old Abdul Hamid Saiyed, also from Fatewadi locality in Sarkhej.
Police said the duo were wanted in a cattle theft case registered at Langhnaj Police Station in Mehsana under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 2017, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
They were also wanted in a separate case registered at Vejalpur Police Station under relevant sections of the BNS, the Animal Preservation Act and the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations (BPMC) Act.
According to the police, Abdul Hamid Saiyed is a history-sheeter with 12 previous criminal cases registered against him at Langhnaj, Nandasan, Kalol Taluka, Vasai and Vejalpur police stations.
These include multiple cases of theft under the Indian Penal Code, several offences under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and other criminal and prohibition-related cases.
Police said legal proceedings have been initiated against both accused.