Chandigarh, November 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Police has secured the deportation of alleged gangster Gurwinder Singh alias Afridi from Ethiopia after a 10-month international manhunt spanning four countries, marking what the state police described as its first-ever successful deportation of a fugitive from an African country.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Sunday that Afridi, a key alleged kingpin of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang, was detained in Ethiopia on November 6 and subsequently deported to India. Punjab Police took him into custody at New Delhi airport. He is being brought to Punjab to face criminal proceedings.
Afridi carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh announced by the Punjab Government and is wanted in more than 30 criminal cases, including five murder cases, attempted murder, extortion and offences under the Arms Act. Police allege that he directed targeted killings, extortion-related firing incidents and organised criminal activities in Punjab while operating from abroad.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Police Headquarters, Yadav said the operation, codenamed ‘Operation SHAHID’, was carried out under the ongoing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) coordinated with the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) of Counter Intelligence, along with central and international agencies.
According to the DGP, Afridi fled India through Mumbai airport to the UAE on March 31, 2025, allegedly using a fake passport obtained in the name of a Gorakhpur resident and issued from Lucknow on February 12, 2025.
After initially staying in the UAE, he attempted to reach Mexico via Istanbul but was deported back to the UAE. He subsequently travelled to Kenya in April 2026, Angola in June and Ethiopia in November, Yadav said.
Punjab Police secured an INTERPOL Red Notice against him and issued seven INTERPOL references during the pursuit. Information about his alleged false identity and movements was also shared with central agencies.
Yadav credited the AGTF and OFTEC teams, particularly IGP OFTEC Ashish Chaudhary and SP Bikramjit Singh Brar, with coordinating the operation. He also acknowledged the support of the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and central intelligence and enforcement agencies.
The five murder cases in which Afridi is wanted include the killings of Sarpanch Rajwinder alias Raj Talwandi in October 2024, 12-year-old Gursewak Singh and Vicky Chugh in March 2025, Jaswant Singh in May 2025, and Congress Block President Gurmel Singh in September 2025.
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