Punjab gangster Afridi deported from Ethiopia after 10-month manhunt, wanted in 35 cases

Punjab Police have brought back wanted gangster Gurwinder Singh, alias Afridi, from Ethiopia after a 10-month search spanning several countries. The accused, described by police as a senior member of the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang, arrived in New Delhi on Sunday. Officers said he is wanted in numerous cases in Punjab, including alleged murders and extortion-related offences across the state.

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Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav announced the deportation on Sunday, saying the operation had been conducted with assistance from central agencies.

Afridi landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi early on Sunday and was received by officers of Punjab's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF). The police team, led by Superintendent of Police Bikram Brar, was assigned to bring him to Punjab.

The accused, who belongs to Tut village in Tarn Taran district, had been carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh announced by the Punjab government for information leading to his arrest.

Operation SHAHID: How Punjab Police tracked Afridi across three continents

Police said the search for Afridi was conducted under Operation SHAHID, with the AGTF working alongside the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) of Punjab's Counter Intelligence wing.

The investigation involved collecting intelligence, monitoring the suspect's movements and coordinating with law enforcement agencies in different countries. Officers followed information across Asia, South America and Africa before securing his deportation from Ethiopia.

According to Yadav, the Ministry of External Affairs and other central agencies assisted Punjab Police during the international operation.

"We thank the Ministry of External Affairs and all other central agencies as part of this international cooperation," the DGP said in a post on X.

This is the first case where Punjab Police has got deportation of a wanted fugitive from an African country.

Gurwinder Afridi wanted in 35 criminal cases, including five murders

Afridi is wanted in 35 criminal cases in Punjab, including five involving murder allegations.

Among the cases linked to him is the killing of Aam Aadmi Party sarpanch Rajwinder, also known as Raj Talwandi, in October 2024. He is also wanted in connection with the death of 12-year-old Gursewak Singh in March 2025.

Other murder investigations in which he is wanted concern Vicky Chugh, killed in March 2025, Jaswant Singh in May 2025 and Congress block president Gurmel Singh in September 2025.

The DGP said preliminary investigations suggested that Afridi had allegedly been directing targeted attacks and shootings connected with extortion while living outside India.

Investigators suspect that he used contacts associated with the Doni Bal-Prabh Dassuwal gang to coordinate criminal activities in Punjab without being physically present in the state.

Afridi's name also surfaced in 2022 Tarn Taran church attack case

Afridi had earlier been named during the investigation into an attack on a church at Thakkarpura village in Tarn Taran district on August 31, 2022.

In that incident, four masked men allegedly threatened a security guard with a firearm before damaging statues of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. The attackers also allegedly set the pastor's car on fire.

The investigation continued, and in June 2024, Amritsar Rural Police arrested Jaswinder Singh, alias Munshi, as an accused in the case.

During questioning, Munshi allegedly named Afridi and two other persons as associates involved in the attack. Police subsequently began searching for the suspects.

According to the DGP, investigators have also been examining allegations that Afridi coordinated other organised criminal activities from abroad. The allegations against him remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.

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