Monday Special

"My respect for the Khaki uniform has multiplied many times over, witnessing the truly marvelous working method of the Aravalli S.P. Sir and his entire, dedicated police team!" : Kamlesh Patel

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From Masked Men to Mugshots: The Aravalli Police Breakthrough

(A Tale of Robbery and the Police Pursuit

In Gujarati by Ishvar Prajapati 

In English by Pallavi Gupta)

      The air in Vadagam village, located in Dhanasura taluka of Aravalli district, was thick with devotion and festivity. It was the auspicious fifth night of Navratri, a period dedicated to the worship of the Goddess of Power, Adhyashakti. The rhythmic pulse of Garba echoed across the village square, creating a profoundly sacred atmosphere. Yet, this night of joyous celebration was about to be marred by an act of chilling boldness.

     A short distance from the main village road, at a quiet farmhouse, Kamleshbhai Patel was relaxing, enjoying the distant Garba music while engrossed in a cricket match on his mobile. Beside him, a young man, Sunil Patel, was similarly occupied on his own mobile device. Working late into the night outside had become Kamleshbhai's routine.

     Around 12:30 AM, in a terrifying flash, the silence was broken. Six masked robbers, wielding sharp weapons like knives and iron rods, struck from the farmhouse's small back door. The operation was executed with shocking speed and precision. Two robbers immediately overpowered Sunil, holding a knife to his throat. The others lunged at Kamleshbhai, dragging him inside and demanding his cash.

   Showing remarkable composure in the face of imminent danger, Kamleshbhai did not resist. He quickly handed over a bag containing approximately three lakh rupees. A brief moment of distraction saw one robber also seize Kamleshbhai's expensive mobile phone. After locking the two men inside the house, the robbers fled through the back door. As they vanished, Kamleshbhai’s quick-witted shout, "Hey, leave my mobile, or you'll get caught!" prompted the robber to drop the device right there, a small but crucial detail. Miraculously, neither Kamleshbhai nor Sunil sustained any injuries.

    The entire robbery, a terrifying blur of masked figures, cash, and weapons, had lasted barely a minute and a half. Kamleshbhai and Sunil, breaking the latch to escape, quickly raised the alarm. Within minutes, the chilling news had spread like wildfire, and the police were notified.

    Manoharsinh Jadeja, the Aravalli District Superintendent of Police (S.P.), immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. He ordered a comprehensive, instant investigation. Dy. S.P. D. P. Vaghela, LCB P.I. H. P. Garasiya, Dhanasura P.I. D. J. Prajapati, along with a dedicated team of officers including Police Sub Inspector C. M. Rathod, LCB P.S.I. V. J. Tomar, and Technical P.S.I. I. S. Rabari, went into action mode that very night. Their resolve was firm: to track down the perpetrators, no matter how deep they were hiding.

    The investigation faced immediate hurdles. The robbery had been captured on the farmhouse’s CCTV cameras, but the culprits had completely obscured their faces and heads with masks. Kamleshbhai could only recall that the robbers spoke Hindi and had surma (kohl) applied in their eyes. The use of gloves meant no fingerprints were left behind. Police teams fanned out, painstakingly checking CCTVs on roads and at petrol pumps, searching for any suspicious movements—but the night passed without a concrete breakthrough.

   The following day, S.P. Manoharsinh Jadeja personally visited the crime scene, carrying out a meticulous inspection. He instilled confidence by assuring Kamleshbhai, who remained surprisingly light-hearted, that the police would relentlessly pursue the case. The ring of self-confidence in the S.P.’s voice was palpable.

    Under the S.P.’s astute guidance, the Aravalli Local Crime Branch (LCB) took charge. However, a couple of days later, the criminal elements seemingly threw down a gauntlet. A house break-in in Dhanasura resulted in the theft of property worth lakhs, intensifying the atmosphere of fear gripping the region.

     The police were resolute. Their tireless, round-the-clock efforts began with analyzing information on all notorious theft and robbery gangs. The first tangible lead came through the potent combination of Technical and Human Intelligence: the number plate of a suspicious bike. This trail led the police to Vadodara, where the bike, belonging to a man named Amit alias Gurucharan, was found. Amit was eventually apprehended, and his confession not only revealed two accomplices but also solved the mystery of the Dhanasura house break-in. Stolen goods were recovered, and the two accomplices were also swiftly caught. While the needle of suspicion for the Vadagam robbery pointed at these three, intense questioning failed to yield information about the other three robbers involved in that specific six-person crime.

     Despite solving two significant thefts, the Vadagam farmhouse robbery remained an elusive puzzle. This is where the forward-thinking initiative of S.P. Manoharsinh Jadeja paid dividends. Having established an IT Cell upon taking charge of the district, he now unleashed its power.

    The IT Cell’s dedicated work eventually provided the police with details of some suspicious mobile numbers. This crucial information led the police to the home of a key individual. Stunned by the police presence, the man immediately broke, confessing to the robbery and implicating his accomplices.

     This was the final, triumphant breakthrough. The police successfully apprehended the remaining robbers: Prakashbhai Rameshbhai Vasava, Sanjaybhai Natubhai Vasava, Ketanbhai Ramanbhai Raval, Karanbhai Balubhai Vasava, Kishanbhai Shankarbhai Vasava, and Sanjaybhai Dhulabhai Dayma—all six individuals involved in the Navratri night robbery were now in custody. The stolen amount was also seized.

     When the police brought the apprehended robbers for the customary reconstruction of the crime, the public response was overwhelming. Crowds gathered, and the sky resonated with the heartfelt slogans of "Aravalli Police Zindabad!"

    In a remarkable display of diligence, leadership, and technical prowess, the Aravalli District Police, in just a few days, successfully cracked multiple serious cases of theft and robbery, setting an exemplary standard of law enforcement and restoring peace and confidence to the community.

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Police Officers/Personnel Involved in the Operation:

(1) Shri H. P. Garasiya Police Inspector LCB Aravalli-Modasa

(2) Shri C. M. Rathod Police Sub Inspector LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(3) Shri V. J. Tomar Police Sub Inspector LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(4) Shri I. S. Rabari Police Sub Inspector Technician Branch Aravalli-Modasa 

(5) ASI Kalpeshsinh Karansingh B. No. 399 LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(6) ASI Shankarji Dhulaji B. No. 173 LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(7) ASI Arshivadh Nathubhai B. No. 273 LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(8) Unarmed Head Constable Dilipbhai Thanabhai B. No. 398 LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(9) Unarmed Head Constable Jitendrakumar Sureshbhai B. No. 726 LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(10) Unarmed Head Constable Subhashbhai Babubhai B. No. 25 LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(11) Unarmed Head Constable Bharatsinh Parbhatsinh B. No. 468 Technician LCB Aravalli-Modasa 

(12) Armed Local Constable Raj Mahipalsinh B. No. 0776 Technician Branch Aravalli-Modasa 

(13) Armed Local Constable Anilkumar Dhulabhai B. No. 255 Technician Branch Aravalli-Modasa