Punjab Police deports fugitive gangster Gurwinder from Ethiopia after 10-month hunt
Synopsis
Punjab Police pulled off a 10-month international manhunt, tracking fugitive gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi across Asia, South America, and Africa before securing his deportation from Ethiopia under Operation SHAHID. Wanted in 35 cases including 5 murders — victims ranging from a 12-year-old to an elected sarpanch and a Congress functionary — Afridi's return marks a rare and significant cross-border win for state law enforcement.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police deported fugitive gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi from Ethiopia on 8 November 2026 under Operation SHAHID .
Afridi is a described as a key kingpin of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang and is reportedly wanted in 35 criminal cases , including 5 murders .
The manhunt lasted 10 months and spanned countries across Asia, South America, and Africa .
The operation was conducted by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and OFTEC , with support from the Ministry of External Affairs and central agencies.
The Punjab government had announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
He will be questioned on his alleged role in directing targeted killings and extortion from abroad.
Punjab Police on Sunday, 8 November 2026, secured the deportation of fugitive gangster Gurwinder, alias Afridi, from Ethiopia following a 10-month-long international manhunt conducted under Operation SHAHID. The accused was flown to Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, where a Punjab Police team took custody and escorted him back to the state for further investigation.
How the Operation Unfolded
The mission was spearheaded by Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in close coordination with the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) of the Counter Intelligence wing, with support from central agencies. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed that the operation involved sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tracking across multiple countries in Asia, South America, and Africa before Afridi was located in Ethiopia.
The DGP also acknowledged the critical role played by the Ministry of External Affairs and other central agencies, calling their coordination indispensable to the operation's success.
Who Is Gurwinder alias Afridi
Afridi is described by investigators as a key kingpin of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang, one of Punjab's more active organised crime networks. He is reportedly wanted in 35 criminal cases, including five murder cases. Among the alleged victims are AAP sarpanch Rajwinder Singh, alias Raj Talwandi, killed in October 2024; 12-year-old Gursewak Singh, killed in March 2025; Vicky Chugh, killed in March 2025; Jaswant Singh, killed in May 2025; and Congress block president Gurmel Singh, killed in September 2025.
According to preliminary investigations, Afridi was allegedly directing targeted killings, extortion-related firing incidents, and other organised criminal activities in Punjab while operating from foreign soil — a modus operandi increasingly associated with India-based gangs using overseas bases to evade law enforcement.
The Reward and the Search
The Punjab government had announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for credible information leading to Afridi's arrest. His alleged role in coordinating crimes from abroad had made him a priority target for state police, particularly after the killings of an elected sarpanch and a sitting Congress functionary drew sharp political attention.
What Happens Next
With Afridi now in Punjab Police custody, investigators are expected to question him about his alleged involvement in the pending criminal cases, his connections with active gang members, and the network through which criminal operations were purportedly being directed from overseas. This deportation is the latest in a series of cross-border operations Punjab Police has mounted against gangsters believed to be sheltering abroad, and signals an increasingly assertive posture in pursuing fugitives beyond Indian borders.
Point of View
But it also underlines a troubling structural reality: Punjab's gangster ecosystem has gone global, with operatives allegedly running extortion and murder contracts from Ethiopia, Canada, and beyond. The fact that it took 10 months, multi-agency coordination, and diplomatic backing to bring back one fugitive raises hard questions about how many others remain out of reach. The pattern of targets — an elected sarpanch, a party functionary, a child — suggests these networks are not just criminal but politically threatening. Punjab Police's cross-border record is improving, but the pipeline of overseas fugitives appears far from exhausted.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gurwinder alias Afridi and why was he wanted?
Gurwinder alias Afridi is described by Punjab Police as a key kingpin of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang. He is reportedly wanted in 35 criminal cases, including five murder cases involving victims such as an AAP sarpanch, a 12-year-old child, and a Congress block president.
What is Operation SHAHID?
Operation SHAHID is a Punjab Police initiative under which the Anti-Gangster Task Force and the OFTEC tracked and secured the deportation of fugitive gangsters operating from abroad. Gurwinder alias Afridi's return from Ethiopia is the latest success under this operation after a 10-month-long international manhunt.
How did Punjab Police track Afridi to Ethiopia?
According to Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, the operation involved sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tracking of Afridi across multiple countries in Asia, South America, and Africa before he was located in Ethiopia. The Ministry of External Affairs and central agencies provided critical assistance.
What happens to Afridi now that he is back in India?
Afridi has been brought to Punjab for further investigation. Authorities plan to question him about his alleged involvement in multiple criminal cases, his links with active gang members, and the overseas network through which criminal activities were allegedly being coordinated.
What reward had the Punjab government announced for Afridi's arrest?
The Punjab government had announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for credible information leading to the arrest of Gurwinder alias Afridi, reflecting the priority his capture held for the state's law enforcement agencies.
