Punjab Police bring back 17 gangsters from abroad in major anti-crime drive

What happened in the Punjab Police anti-gangster drive

Punjab Police have brought back 17 fugitives and gangsters from foreign countries over the past six months, marking a major milestone in the state government's ongoing campaign to eliminate organised crime.

Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced that under the 'Gangstran Te Vaar' campaign, police executed 1,61,266 raids between 20 January and 7 November, arresting 2,162 proclaimed offenders. The minister stated that the state administration under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is determined to make Punjab gangster-free by pursuing criminal networks across international borders.

Key extraditions and international operations

The most recent high-profile breakthrough occurred on 7 November, when state authorities secured the return of Gurwinder Singh, alias Afridi, from Ethiopia. Afridi, who carried a reward of ₹5 lakh and faced more than 30 criminal cases including multiple murder charges, had fled India using a fake passport before moving to East Africa via the UAE.

Punjab Police have coordinated with international agencies to bring back wanted individuals from multiple overseas jurisdictions.

What happens next in the state crackdown

The Punjab government stated that legal teams are building evidence files for courts to secure convictions for all extradited figures. Cheema reiterated that police operations will continue until all fugitives operating outside the country are brought before the legal system.