Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), working in coordination with its Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) and central agencies, has secured the deportation of fugitive gangster Jobanjit Singh, alias Joban Billa, from Jakarta, Indonesia, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav confirmed on Saturday, 25 July. The accused was detained in Indonesia on 20 July and subsequently handed over to Indian authorities, who took him into custody at Mumbai airport before transporting him to Punjab for further investigation.

Operation Nomad Hunt: Six Months in the Making

The deportation is the result of Operation Nomad Hunt, described by DGP Yadav as 'a six-month-long intelligence-led international manhunt involving sustained surveillance, strategic intelligence gathering and close coordination with national and international agencies.' The operation was executed under the supervision of Additional Director General of Police (AGTF) Promod Ban and led on the ground by Superintendent of Police Bikramjit Singh Brar.

Punjab Police had issued a Red Corner Notice against Joban Billa and shared intelligence on his fake passport and movements with central agencies at multiple intervals. In addition, five INTERPOL references were issued to track his whereabouts across jurisdictions.

How the Accused Evaded Arrest Across Three Countries

According to officials, Joban Billa fled India on 9 January 2025, using a passport prepared on fake particulars of a Gorakhpur resident — a document issued from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on 8 March 2024. He was first traced to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from where he moved to Georgia, and subsequently to Indonesia, where he was eventually detained.

Notably, the use of a fraudulently obtained passport to cross multiple international borders points to a well-resourced escape network — a pattern increasingly associated with organised crime groups operating out of Punjab.

Cases Registered Against Joban Billa

ADGP Ban confirmed that Joban Billa is wanted in four murder cases registered in Punjab, along with charges under the NDPS Act and the Arms Act. The murders include:

• The killing of Jarnail Singh in Sathiala village, Amritsar, in May 2023.
• The murder of Deepu Ajnala in January 2024.
• The killing of 12-year-old Gursewak Singh in March 2025.
• The murder of Vicky Chugh in March 2025.

The killing of a 12-year-old child among the alleged offences underscores the severity of the charges and the urgency that drove the multi-country manhunt.

OFTEC: Punjab's Dedicated Overseas Fugitive Cell

The deportation is one of the early operational successes of OFTEC, established on the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to track criminals sheltering abroad and accelerate their extradition to India. The cell is headed by Inspector General of Police Ashish Choudhary.

With gangsters increasingly exploiting international mobility to evade Indian law enforcement, OFTEC represents a structural response — embedding extradition coordination into Punjab Police's permanent architecture rather than treating each case as a one-off effort.

What Comes Next

Joban Billa is currently being brought to Punjab, where he will face interrogation and formal legal proceedings in connection with the registered cases. Investigators are expected to probe his overseas network, funding sources, and the individuals who facilitated his fraudulent travel documents. The outcome of this case is likely to set a precedent for how OFTEC handles future extradition requests.