Punjab Police Deport Wanted Gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi From Ethiopia After 10-Month Manhunt

Gurwinder, widely known as Afridi, landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport early Sunday morning, marking the end of a decade-long criminal career and a 10-month international search. A key kingpin of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang, Afridi was deported from Ethiopia and is currently being escorted back to Punjab by a specialized team from the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), according to reports from Hindustan Times.

The deportation represents a significant operational milestone for the state. Police sources noted that this is the first time the Punjab Police has successfully secured the return of a fugitive from an African nation. The operation, conducted under the banner of “Operation SHAHID,” involved a complex web of intelligence gathering and surveillance that stretched across Asia, South America, and Africa, ANI News reported.

The stakes of this arrest extend far beyond a single criminal’s capture. For the residents of Punjab, Afridi’s ability to operate from abroad meant that organized crime was not contained by borders. As Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated, preliminary investigations suggest the accused was allegedly directing targeted killings, extortion-related firing incidents, and other organized criminal activities within the state while residing overseas.

A criminal record spanning dozens of cases

Afridi is not a minor player in the state’s underworld. The Tribune reports that he is wanted in 35 separate cases, five of which are sensational murders. The timeline of these alleged crimes shows a pattern of violence that escalated significantly in recent years. Among the most high-profile cases are the murders of AAP sarpanch Rajwinder, known as Raj Talwandi, in October 2024, and the killing of 12-year-old Gursewak Singh in March 2025.

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… pic.twitter.com/56e6SmmZiX

— https://x.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/2119247881786073310

The list of violent offenses continues with the deaths of Vicky Chugh in March 2025, Jaswant Singh in May 2025, and Congress block president Gurmel Singh in September 2025, The Tribune further detailed. To facilitate his capture, the Punjab government had placed a ₹5 lakh reward on any information leading to his arrest.

The path to his deportation began when Afridi fled India via Mumbai airport on March 31, 2025, allegedly using a passport obtained through a false identity, according to News18. His flight from justice saw him move through multiple jurisdictions, including Kenya in April 2026 and Angola in June, before his eventual detention in Ethiopia on November 6.

The mechanics of international extraction

The successful return of Afridi was not a solo effort by local police but a coordinated strike involving national and international agencies. The operation was managed through the newly established Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) of Counter Intelligence, Punjab, which works in tandem with central agencies. ANI News highlighted the role of the Ministry of External Affairs in facilitating this international cooperation.

Punjab Police Deport Wanted Gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi From Ethiopia After 10-Month Manhunt — Photo: ANI News

To track a fugitive of this scale, the police utilized several high-level legal tools, including a Red Corner Notice and seven separate Interpol references. This level of coordination is essential for dismantling networks that use the anonymity of foreign borders to shield themselves from domestic law enforcement.

Key Detail	Information Provided by Sources
Primary Gang Affiliation	Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang
Total Cases Reported	35 cases (including 5 murders)
Government Reward	₹5 lakh
Operation Name	Operation SHAHID
Last Known Location	Ethiopia (detained Nov 6, 2026)

The legal and social implications of gang leadership from abroad

The case of Gurwinder alias Afridi highlights a growing challenge for Indian law enforcement: the “remote-control” model of organized crime. When gang leaders can direct extortion and targeted killings from thousands of miles away, traditional policing methods often fall short. This reality has forced the Punjab Police to shift from local patrolling to international intelligence operations.

While the deportation is being hailed as a breakthrough, some analysts suggest the focus must remain on the networks that allow such fugitives to move between continents using fraudulent identities. The ability of Afridi to traverse through South America and Africa suggests a sophisticated support system that may still be active within India.

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Police are now expected to scrutinize Afridi’s role in his various criminal cases and, perhaps more importantly, investigate the specific individuals and networks that enabled his international movement. The upcoming press conferences by Special DGP (AGTF) Parmod Ban and other senior officials are expected to provide more clarity on how these transnational links were severed.

The arrest was carried out as part of the Punjab government’s “Gangstaran Te Vaar” campaign, a dedicated initiative aimed at curbing organized crime and restoring security across the state, News18 reported.

“In a major breakthrough, Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab… secures the deportation of Gurwinder alias Afridi, a key kingpin of the Doni Bal–Prabh Dassuwal gang, from Ethiopia following a 10-month international manhunt,” stated DGP Gaurav Yadav via social media.