Ahmedabad Angadia firm robbery foiled: 2 held with 3 pistols, 19 cartridges
Synopsis
A 70-year-old and a 35-year-old, both from Bihar's Siwan district, walked into an Ahmedabad Angadia firm with three country-made pistols and over 10 knives — and were overpowered by the owner and local residents. Police credit a pre-incident security outreach drive for enabling officers to reach the scene within five minutes. A third accused remains at large.
Key Takeaways
Two men — Rajan Shah, 35 , and Alimahmad Rustam Ali Sheikh, 70 , both from Siwan, Bihar — were arrested on Thursday evening, 25 September 2026 after a foiled robbery attempt at an Angadia firm in Isanpur, Ahmedabad .
Police recovered 3 country-made pistols , 19 live cartridges , more than 10 knives , and approximately 200 grams of gunpowder from the accused.
The accused had allegedly conducted surveillance of multiple Angadia firms over 15 days before selecting the target based on lower footfall and easier access.
A third accused, Pritam Singh , who reportedly stayed outside during the attempt, remains at large; police are actively tracing him.
Rajan Shah is identified as the primary planner; Alimahmad Sheikh allegedly transported weapons from Bihar at his direction.
An FIR has been filed under Sections 309(6), 312 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Arms Act at Isanpur police station .
Two men armed with three country-made pistols and 19 live cartridges were arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly attempting to rob an Angadia firm in Ahmedabad's Isanpur area, police said. The accused had reportedly conducted targeted surveillance of multiple such firms over the preceding fortnight before selecting their target. A third associate remains at large.
How the Robbery Attempt Was Foiled
The incident unfolded around 6 pm at the Patel Mahendrabhai Somabhai Angadia firm, located opposite the BRTS bus stop near Narol Circle. The two accused entered the premises with weapons but were overpowered after the owner caught hold of them and raised an alarm, drawing a crowd from the surrounding area.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-6) Bhagirath Gadhvi said officers reached the location within approximately five minutes of receiving information, aided by the cooperation of local residents. The swift response was partly credited to a prior police outreach exercise in which Isanpur police had visited Angadia firms in the area around 15 days before the incident and advised them to strengthen security — sharing contact numbers that proved critical during the emergency.
Who the Accused Are and Their Alleged Plan
The arrested men have been identified as Rajan Shah, 35, and Alimahmad Rustam Ali Sheikh, 70, both originally from Siwan district in Bihar and currently residing on rent in Isanpur. Their alleged associate, Pritam Singh, who reportedly remained outside the premises during the attempt, has not yet been traced.
According to police, Rajan was the primary planner. The group had allegedly conducted an initial round of reconnaissance roughly 15 days earlier, followed by fresh observations over the two to three days preceding the attempt, during which they assessed footfall and security at several Angadia firms. 'They decided to target the firm where they found fewer people,' Gadhvi said.
Police further said that Rajan had previously spent more than a year in Dubai but returned without sufficient earnings and was facing financial difficulties in Ahmedabad. He allegedly drew Alimahmad and Pritam into the plan, with Alimahmad reportedly transporting the weapons from Bihar at Rajan's direction.
Weapons and Evidence Recovered
Police recovered three country-made pistols, 19 live cartridges, and more than 10 knives from the accused. A search of their residence yielded approximately 200 grams of gunpowder. Investigators also seized material allegedly intended to conceal or carry cash after the robbery, including adhesive tape and a belt-like item with compartments.
'There is no figure that has emerged in the investigation showing that they went there knowing that a particular amount of money was present. Their main consideration was where they found it convenient and where they felt they could carry out the robbery,' Gadhvi said.
Criminal History and Ongoing Investigation
Police said both Rajan and Pritam have previously been booked in cases under the Arms Act, while no prior criminal record has so far been found against Alimahmad. Authorities are contacting police in Bihar to verify whether Alimahmad has any offences registered there.
An FIR has been registered at Isanpur police station under Sections 309(6), 312 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 25(1-B)(a) and 29 of the Arms Act. Police are seeking further custody of the arrested accused to trace Pritam Singh, establish the source of the weapons in Bihar, and determine whether the group had planned similar robberies elsewhere. Investigators are also examining the alleged escape route from Ahmedabad to Bihar and whether any additional persons were involved.
Point of View
Lightly guarded, and repeatedly targeted by organised groups. The detail that deserves scrutiny is the weapon pipeline: three country-made pistols and 200 grams of gunpowder allegedly sourced from Bihar and transported to Ahmedabad points to a supply chain that local arrests will not disrupt on their own. The third accused, Pritam Singh, remains free, and police have yet to establish who supplied the weapons or how many similar operations the group may have scouted. The DCP's acknowledgement that proactive security advice to local firms directly enabled the five-minute police response is a rare bright spot — and an argument for institutionalising such outreach rather than treating it as a one-off exercise.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Angadia firm in Ahmedabad's Isanpur area?
Two armed men — Rajan Shah and Alimahmad Rustam Ali Sheikh — allegedly attempted to rob the Patel Mahendrabhai Somabhai Angadia firm near Narol Circle on Thursday evening, 25 September . They were overpowered by the owner and local residents before police arrived within five minutes and arrested them.
What weapons and items were recovered from the accused?
Police recovered three country-made pistols , 19 live cartridges , more than 10 knives , and around 200 grams of gunpowder from the accused and their residence. Cash-concealment items including adhesive tape and a compartmentalised belt were also seized.
Who is Pritam Singh and why has he not been arrested?
Pritam Singh is the third alleged associate, who reportedly remained outside the Angadia firm during the robbery attempt. He had not been traced as of the time of the police statement; investigators believe he may have assisted in procuring the weapons.
How did the accused select their target?
According to DCP Bhagirath Gadhvi , the group conducted reconnaissance approximately 15 days before the incident and revisited the area over the two to three days immediately preceding the attempt, observing staff numbers and movement at multiple Angadia firms. They chose the firm where they assessed security to be weakest.
What charges have been filed and what are police investigating next?
An FIR has been registered at Isanpur police station under Sections 309(6), 312 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 , and Sections 25(1-B)(a) and 29 of the Arms Act . Police are seeking further custody to trace Pritam Singh , identify the source of weapons in Bihar , and determine whether any other robberies were planned.
