Chandigarh: In a major breakthrough in its campaign against organised crime, Punjab Police has secured the detention of a most-wanted gangster linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang at the Moldova border as part of the state government’s ongoing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ initiative.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav on Saturday said that fugitive gangster Amritpal Singh was detained on the basis of an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued at the request of Punjab Police in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Central Bureau of Investigation and other central agencies.
According to police officials, the action follows sustained international coordination and persistent follow-up by Punjab Police as part of its efforts to track offenders evading justice abroad. Authorities have initiated legal and diplomatic procedures to secure his extradition or deportation to India.
The crackdown comes under the anti-gangster campaign launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, aimed at dismantling organised criminal networks operating from overseas.
Police said Amritpal Singh, a resident of Dalam Nangal village in Batala, had fled India using a fraudulent passport and was closely associated with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. He is alleged to have made extortion calls targeting individuals and business owners, particularly in the Amritsar region.
The DGP said the accused is wanted in several serious criminal cases in Punjab, including drug smuggling, murder and attempted murder, and had been absconding abroad for a considerable period.
To strengthen its efforts, Punjab Police has recently set up the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC), headed by Inspector General of Police Ashish Choudhary. The specialised unit is tasked with tracing criminals hiding overseas and expediting their extradition to India.
Yadav added that the OFTEC is currently pursuing several other fugitives operating from abroad as part of the state’s broader crackdown on organised crime.
