Agniveer among three arrested for car snatching in Punjab's Mohali

The accused were also involved in a few other incidents of vehicle snatching.

An Agniveer and two others were arrested by the Mohali Police on Wednesday in connection with a vehicle snatching case.

The accused have been identified as Agniveer Ishmeet Singh alias Ishu, his brother Prabhpreet Singh alias Prabh, and Balkaran Singh, all aged between 18–22 years.

Addressing a press conference in Mohali, Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Garg said the trio had two days ago allegedly stolen a car from the driver at gunpoint after booking a ride through an app.  They had also reportedly used pepper spray on the driver's face.

Garg said Ishmeet Singh was recruited as an Agniveer in 2022 and  posted in West Bengal. He came on a one-month leave but did not return to duty.

“Ishmeet did not return to duty and started living in Balongi on rent with his brother Prabhpreet Singh and friend Balkaran Singh, engaging in thefts and snatchings,” Garg said.

According to India Today, Ishmeet was earing 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 rep[ortedly registered 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.

According to the police, the accused were also involved in a few other incidents of vehicle snatching and theft and used to flee to Fazilka after committing the crimes.