Chilli Powder Attack Fails: Jeweller Thrashes Female Robber

A brazen daylight robbery attempt at a jewellery store in Ahmedabad’s Ranip area ended in a dramatic scuffle, with the alert jeweller swiftly overpowering and repeatedly striking the female assailant after her crude attempt to blind him with chilli powder failed. The entire confrontation, which lasted just a few intense seconds, was captured on the shop’s Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system, and the shocking footage has since gone viral across social media platforms.

The incident unfolded when a woman, reportedly posing as a customer, entered the gold and silver shop located near the Ranip vegetable market. According to the CCTV footage, the jeweller, identified as Soni, was alone behind the counter. After a brief interaction, the woman suddenly produced a packet of chilli powder and attempted to fling it directly into the jeweller’s eyes, a classic tactic often used to incapacitate victims before a robbery.

The Moment of Retaliation

However, the jeweller exhibited remarkable presence of mind and managed to shield himself, preventing the caustic powder from directly hitting his eyes. Realising the imminent threat and the woman’s criminal intent, Soni reacted instantly. Without hesitation, he reportedly vaulted over the shop counter and confronted the would-be robber.

What followed was a swift and decisive act of self-defence. The jeweller landed a flurry of blows on the woman, with reports suggesting he slapped her repeatedly—some accounts estimate the number of strikes to be around twenty—in a rapid, forceful response. The intense 20 to 25-second confrontation ended with the jeweller dragging the woman towards the entrance and forcefully pushing her out of the shop, thwarting the robbery attempt completely. She was then seen fleeing the scene.

Police Investigate Despite Lack of Formal Complaint

The viral nature of the CCTV footage brought the incident to the immediate attention of the local police. Ranip Police officials confirmed that they have taken suo motu (on their own initiative) cognisance of the matter. Ranip Police Station’s Inspector Ketan Vyas stated that while they contacted the jeweller to lodge a First Information Report (FIR), Soni has reportedly declined to file a formal complaint.

Despite the shopkeeper’s reluctance, the police have launched a full-scale investigation based on the video evidence. Authorities are now actively using the high-definition CCTV footage to trace and identify the woman. The police are also investigating her background to ascertain whether she is part of a larger criminal gang or has been involved in similar robbery attempts across the city. The incident highlights the growing audacity of criminals and the need for constant vigilance among business owners.