World · South & Central Asia · 13 hrs ago
Punjab Police brings wanted gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi back from Ethiopia
Punjab Police brought Gurwinder alias Afridi back from Ethiopia after a 10-month international manhunt called Operation SHAHID.
Afridi landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport early on Sunday and was being escorted to Punjab by the Anti-Gangster Task Force.
Police describe him as a key figure in the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang, and the Punjab government had offered a ₹5 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest.
Police allege he directed killings and extortion-related attacks in Punjab while operating from abroad.
The search involved intelligence gathering and tracking across countries in Asia, South America and Africa, with help from central and international agencies.
His return is part of Punjab’s effort to pursue gang members overseas, supported by a police unit set up to coordinate with agencies in India and other countries.
Punjab Police officials were expected to speak at a press conference later on Sunday.
Punjab Police brought wanted gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi back to India from Ethiopia on Sunday.
The operation followed a 10-month international manhunt under Operation SHAHID, with support from central agencies.
Afridi landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and was being escorted to Punjab by the Anti-Gangster Task Force.
The Punjab government had announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
Police say preliminary investigations indicate he allegedly directed targeted killings, extortion-related firing incidents and other organised criminal activity from abroad.
- Who
- Punjab Police brought back Gurwinder alias Afridi, described as a key kingpin of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang.
- What
- He was deported from Ethiopia to India after a 10-month international manhunt.
- When
- Sunday, November 8, 2026.
- Where
- He arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport from Ethiopia and was being escorted to Punjab.
- Why
- Police were seeking him over alleged organised criminal activity in Punjab, including targeted killings and extortion-related firing incidents.
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A first information report naming Afridi was registered at Sadar Patti police station in Tarn Taran.
An attack on a church in Thakkarpura village, Tarn Taran, took place; Afridi was later named in the investigation.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the 2021 FIR and related proceedings against the petitioners after a compromise.
Amritsar Rural Police arrested Jaswinder Singh alias Munshi, who allegedly named Afridi and two others as accomplices in the church attack.
Punjab Police brought Afridi back from Ethiopia after a 10-month international manhunt.
- Reward
- ₹5 lakh
- Manhunt
- 10 months under Operation SHAHID
- Arrival point
- Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport
- Home village
- Tut village, Tarn Taran district
- Gang
- Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang
3 sources
What people are saying
In a major breakthrough, Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab, in coordination with the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (#OFTEC) of Counter Intelligence, Punjab with the support of central agencies, secures the deportation of Gurwinder alias Afridi, a key kingpin of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang, from Ethiopia following a 10-month-long international manhunt under Operation SHAHID
We thank the ministry of external affairs and all other central agencies as part of this international cooperation