Ola driver’s car snatched at knifepoint in Chandigarh’s Sector 18

Police said the victim, Danish of Panchkula, had picked up the accused from Behlana village in Chandigarh for a drop at the Sector 17 ISBT around 1.15 am

Two men posing as passengers robbed an Ola cab driver of his car at knifepoint near the Sector 18/21 light point past Tuesday midnight.

Victim Danish told the police that when they reached near the Sector 18/21 light point, the two men suddenly brandished a knife and asked him to step out of the car. (Getty images)

Police said the victim, Danish of Panchkula, had picked up the accused from Behlana village for a drop at the Sector 17 ISBT around 1.15 am. Though he drives the cab for Ola, he was off duty when the accused hailed him from the roadside.

Danish told the police that when they reached near the Sector 18/21 light point, the two men suddenly brandished a knife and asked him to step out of the car.

As he got out of the vehicle, the accused drove off in it with his mobile phone still inside, due to which he couldn’t inform the police immediately.

Danish said he walked for a while before he spotted a PCR vehicle and alerted them. Police said both the accused, according to the complainant, were aged between 25 and 30.

“Danish had purchased the Tata Indigo three months ago. Initially, we were suspicious of his story, but eventually saw two men with him in a CCTV camera,” a cop privy to the investigation said.

“We lay night check posts and bike patrolling teams were also in the field. But since the victim couldn’t inform the police immediately, as the accused took his mobile phone, time was lost and they managed to flee. We are tracing their possible routes and scanning CCTV footage. They will be nabbed soon,” the police official added.

Meanwhile, SP (City) Mridul said a case of robbery and criminal intimidation had been registered at the Sector 19 police station following the complaint of the victim, and further investigation in the case was on.

Four months ago, on December 31, a Maruti Suzuki Brezza was snatched at gunpoint near V-Mart in NAC Manimajra on New Year’s Eve.

Before this, on December 18, four men robbed a Chandigarh resident of his car at gunpoint near the Kumbran light point in Mohali in the wee hours.