Full Breakdown
Punjab’s Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell Returns Ten Wanted Gangsters, 21 Cases Await Clearance
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Core Event – Return of Ten Fugitives and Ongoing Extradition Efforts
Punjab’s Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) has secured the deportation or extradition of ten wanted individuals in its first seven months. The most-high-profile return was that of Amritpal Singh, also known as Amrit Dalam, from the Republic of Moldova. At a press briefing on September 12 2026, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora said 21 additional extradition proposals are pending with the central government.
Background & Context – Rise of Gangsterism and Creation of OFTEC
State officials link a surge in organized crime and drug-related violence to networks operating from abroad and from jails in other Indian states. In response, the Punjab government announced the formation of OFTEC, slated to be set up on January 20 2026. The cell tracks and repatriates fugitives whose alleged criminal activities are directed from outside Punjab.
Timeline of Extraditions
| Date | Individual(s) | Origin Country | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 12 2026 | Bhuvnesh Chopra | United Arab Emirates | Seven FIRs in Ferozepur, Kharar, Fazilka, Patiala |
| March 24 2026 | Kamal (alias Kamal Athwal) | United States | FIR No. 132, Machhiwara |
| April 10 2026 | Amritpal Singh Mehron | United Arab Emirates | Two FIRs in Amritsar and Barnala |
| June 18 2026 | Manjeet Singh & Gurvinder Singh | Malaysia | FIR No. 76, Patiala |
| July 24 2026 | Jobanjit Singh (alias Billa) | Indonesia | FIR No. 94, Amritsar |
| August 19 2026 | Ajay Singh, Pawandeep Singh, Jaspreet Singh | Malaysia | FIRs under BNS and Explosive Substances Act, Ludhiana & others |
Data & Statistics – Scope of OFTEC Activity
- Fugitives returned: 10 (including the Moldovan extradition)
- Pending proposals: 21, awaiting coordination between state police, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs
- Countries involved: Moldova, United Arab Emirates, United States, Indonesia, Malaysia
Official Statements & Responses
Arora outlined OFTEC’s coordination with the state investigation machinery, the CBI, Interpol, the NIA and the two central ministries. He called for greater central-state cooperation, noting that tracking encrypted communications and cross-border networks cannot be the sole responsibility of the state police.
Criticism of Prior Governments
Arora contrasted the current administration’s actions with those of earlier Akali-BJP and Congress governments, citing debates in the 2021 Punjab Budget Session over alleged political links to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. He asserted that previous regimes “allowed gangsterism to flourish.”
What’s Next – Pending Extraditions and Coordination Needs
The 21 pending proposals will require formal requests from OFTEC to the central government, diplomatic engagement through the Ministry of External Affairs and legal processing by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Arora indicated the state will continue to pursue fugitives operating from foreign jurisdictions and safe havens in other Indian states, seeking a coordinated national response to organized crime.