An Agniveer and two others were arrested by the Mohali Police on Wednesday in connection with a vehicle snatching case.
The accused were identified as Agniveer Ishmeet Singh alias Ishu, his brother Prabhpreet Singh alias Prabh, and Balkaran Singh, all aged between 18–22 years.
The police also recovered one stolen car, one motorcycle, one scooter, a country-made pistol with two live cartridges, and two stolen mobile phones from the accused's possession.
Speaking to the media about the case, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Mohali, Sandeep Kumar Garg, said that the accused were involved in several cases of loot and theft in the area.
Speaking about their modus operandi, SSP Garg said that they used to book taxis through online apps and then rob the drivers at gunpoint.
Giving details about Agniveer Ishmeet, the police said that he was posted in West Bengal and came to Punjab on leave for one month in May this year. But did not return to work after the leave owing to the meagre pay.
"He (Ishu) was staying away from his family, earned a meagre salary of Rs 20,000 and was unsure of his future, so he didn’t want to return to the army. He seems to have made up his mind to take to crime as he had made a trip to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to buy a weapon, which he eventually used in the car theft." the SSP said.
A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 307 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint), 308 (extortion), 125 (endangering human life), 61 (2) (criminal case) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and also under the sections of the Arms Act.
The Punjab Police has also written to the Indian Army in connection with the involvement of Agniveer’s involvement in the crime.
