Ahmedabad Police arrest two cattle theft accused, one a 12-case history-sheeter
Synopsis
Two men wanted in cattle theft cases across Ahmedabad and Mehsana were arrested after nine months on the run — one of them a history-sheeter with 12 prior criminal cases. The arrests came from a targeted Ahmedabad Police drive using human intelligence and technical surveillance to clear a backlog of absconding offenders.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Police LCB Zone-7 arrested two cattle theft accused on 1 August after they had been absconding for nine months .
One accused, Abdul Hamid Saiyed , aged 50 , is a history-sheeter with 12 previous criminal cases at five police stations across Gujarat.
The second accused, Mohammad Rafiq Bhatijiwala , aged 39 , is also known as 'Chhipa' and is a resident of Fatewadi, Sarkhej .
Cases against the duo were registered at Langhnaj Police Station in Mehsana and Vejalpur Police Station in Ahmedabad.
Charges include offences under the BNS , the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 2017 , and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 .
The Ahmedabad Police's Local Crime Branch (LCB) Zone-7 has arrested two men who had been absconding for nine months in connection with cattle theft cases registered in Ahmedabad and Mehsana. One of the two accused, Abdul Hamid Saiyed, is a history-sheeter with 12 previous criminal cases on record across multiple police stations in Gujarat.
How the Arrests Were Made
The operation was part of a citywide drive launched by Ahmedabad Police to trace absconding accused and reinforce law and order. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-7) Shivam Verma had directed police stations under his jurisdiction and the LCB to intensify efforts using both human intelligence and technical surveillance.
Acting on specific intelligence received by Assistant Sub-Inspector Nashrullakhan Habibkhan, Head Constable Mahendrasinh Laxmansinh, and Police Constable Irfan Kasambhai, a team led by Police Sub-Inspector H.D. Vaghela traced and apprehended the two men from the Vejalpur police station area.
Who Was Arrested
The accused have been identified as Mohammad Rafiq Bhatijiwala, aged 39, also known as 'Chhipa', a resident of Fatewadi in Sarkhej, and Abdul Hamid Saiyed, aged 50, also from the Fatewadi locality in Sarkhej.
According to police, 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. A separate case was also registered against them at Vejalpur Police Station under relevant BNS sections, the Animal Preservation Act, and the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations (BPMC) Act.
Saiyed's Extensive Criminal Record
Police records show that Abdul Hamid Saiyed has 12 previous criminal cases registered against him at Langhnaj, Nandasan, Kalol Taluka, Vasai, and Vejalpur police stations. These include multiple theft cases under the Indian Penal Code, several offences under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and other criminal and prohibition-related cases.
What Happens Next
Police confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against both accused. The arrests signal a continued push by Ahmedabad Police to clear its list of wanted offenders, with senior officials having mandated a special action plan to apprehend absconders citywide.
Point of View
Prohibition offences, and animal preservation violations — raises a pointed question about repeat-offender management in Gujarat's criminal justice system. That Saiyed remained at large for nine months despite an active warrant and a documented history across five police stations points to gaps in inter-station coordination. Ahmedabad Police's citywide drive to clear absconder backlogs is a step in the right direction, but the real accountability test lies in what happens at the prosecution stage — where history-sheeters with extensive records have historically cycled through bail with limited deterrence.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two men arrested by Ahmedabad Police in the cattle theft case?
The two arrested accused are Mohammad Rafiq Bhatijiwala , 39, also known as 'Chhipa', and Abdul Hamid Saiyed , 50, both residents of Fatewadi in Sarkhej, Ahmedabad. They had been absconding for nine months before being apprehended from the Vejalpur police station area.
How many criminal cases does Abdul Hamid Saiyed have against him?
Abdul Hamid Saiyed has 12 previous criminal cases registered against him across five police stations — Langhnaj, Nandasan, Kalol Taluka, Vasai, and Vejalpur. These include theft cases, offences under Section 303(2) of the BNS, and prohibition-related matters.
Under which laws were the cattle theft cases registered?
Cases were registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) , the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 2017 , the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 , and the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations (BPMC) Act , across Langhnaj and Vejalpur police stations.
What prompted the Ahmedabad Police to launch this operation?
Senior Ahmedabad Police officials directed a special action plan to apprehend absconding accused and strengthen law and order citywide. DCP (Zone-7) Shivam Verma instructed LCB and local stations to use human intelligence and technical surveillance to trace wanted offenders.
What happens to the two accused now?
Police have confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against both Mohammad Rafiq Bhatijiwala and Abdul Hamid Saiyed . They are expected to face charges across multiple cases in both Ahmedabad and Mehsana jurisdictions.
