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Punjab Accelerates Anti-Gangster Drive, Returning 10 Fugitives Abroad
Punjab says it is working harder to stop organized crime.
A special unit called OFTEC tracks criminals who have fled to other countries.
The government says 10 wanted people were brought back in seven months.
Twenty-one more extradition requests are still waiting for action from the Central Government.
One returned suspect is gangster Amritpal Singh, also called Amrit Dalam.
He was brought back from Moldova and faces three serious cases.
Minister Aman Arora said criminals sometimes use encrypted calls and messages.
He asked central and state agencies to work more closely to stop these networks.
He also urged people to report crimes and extortion calls to the police.
Punjab AAP chief Aman Arora said 10 wanted fugitives were returned in seven months through deportation or extradition.
The Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell was established on January 20, 2026, to pursue fugitives abroad.
Twenty-one additional extradition proposals are pending with the Central Government.
Gangster Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Dalam was brought back from Moldova and faces three serious cases.
Arora called for stronger Centre-state coordination against criminals using encrypted communications and operating from foreign safe havens.
- Who
- Punjab AAP chief and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, Punjab Police, OFTEC, and cooperating central agencies.
- What
- Punjab reported returning 10 wanted fugitives through deportation or extradition and pursuing 21 additional cases.
- Where
- The fugitives were pursued across borders, including in Moldova, Malaysia, Indonesia, the UAE, the US, and Europe.
- When
- OFTEC was established on January 20, 2026; 10 fugitives were returned over the following seven months.
- Why
- The effort aims to prevent criminals from operating in Punjab or directing illegal activities from abroad.
Punjab Government's Position
Earlier-Regime and Centre-State Debate
Responsibility for organized crime
Punjab Government's Position
Aman Arora credited the Bhagwant Mann government and Punjab Police with intensifying action and bringing fugitives back from abroad.
Earlier-Regime and Centre-State Debate
Arora alleged that gangsterism had grown under earlier Akali-BJP and Congress governments; the article does not include responses from those parties.
State and central roles
Punjab Government's Position
Arora said Punjab is responsible for preventing crime in the state but that the Central Government and central agencies must also act against networks operating from outside Punjab.
Earlier-Regime and Centre-State Debate
The article highlights the need for stronger national coordination because state police alone cannot effectively track encrypted messages and voice calls.
Key facts
- Fugitives returned
- 10 in seven months
- Pending extradition proposals
- 21 with the Central Government
- Tracking unit
- Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC)
- OFTEC established
- January 20, 2026
- Named returned gangster
- Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Dalam
- Named suspect's cases
- Three serious cases
- Agencies involved
- Punjab Police, State Investigation, Bureau of Investigation, Central Bureau of Investigation, Interpol, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, and National Investigation Agency
Sources
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