5 held on robbery charges; claim they are journalists

Five persons, who claimed themselves as journalists, were arrested today for allegedly robbing an employee of an Angadia firm of diamonds and gold jewelery worth Rs 22 lakh on Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway recently.
The heist took place in the wee hours of March 15 when the valuables were being brought to Ahmedabad from Surat by the employee, identified as Lalchand Prasad.
The term "Angadia" stands for a traditional courier service wherein angadias carry diamonds, gold, silver etc. from one town to another, apart from mail.
"Based on some specific inputs and CCTV footage, Kheda police have arrested five persons today who have allegedly carried out the robbery near Mahemdavad town on Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway during the wee hours on March 15," stated a press release by Kheda police.

The accused have been identified as Gopal Masraji, Kirtiben Rathod, Vipul Vyas, Sunil Brahmbhatt and Bhavnaben who claimed themselves as journalists working with small publications in capacity as reporters and editors.
Police suspect these small publications could be the front for their activities, but did not elaborate.

Police are looking out for one Arjun who used to work for the Surat-based angadia firm earlier and allegedly hatched the robbery plan.
"When Prasad was on his way to Ahmedabad, some of these accused intercepted his vehicle with three of their cars and robbed the parcels having diamonds and gold worth Rs 22 lakh. Based on the CCTV footage and other inputs, we nabbed Masraji first and then arrested four others," said Kheda SP Manindersingh Puar.

Police have recovered valuables worth Rs 15.45 lakh from these accused.
According to police, Prasad identified Arjun at the time of robbery, as the latter was used to work as driver in the same firm few years back and was aware about the delivery routes.
"All of them are associated with small publications. They hatched the plan upon Arjun's tip off as he knew about movements of goods of that firm," Puar said, adding that further investigation is on.