Punjab Police Makes History, Brings Wanted Gangster Amrit Dalam Back From Europe

Chandigarh: Punjab Police has scored a major breakthrough in its fight against organised crime by bringing wanted gangster Amritpal Singh, alias Amrit Dalam, back to India from Moldova. It is the first successful extradition of a wanted criminal from a European country in Punjab Police’s history.

Dalam, who police say is linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang and has connections with gangster Harry Chattha, was brought back after an international operation that lasted around six months.

Police say Dalam is wanted in 21 criminal cases across Punjab. The cases include serious charges such as murder, attempted murder, extortion, illegal possession and use of weapons, narcotics related offences and cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to officials, four of these cases have reached the trial stage in Batala, while investigations in the remaining 17 cases are still underway. The cases have been registered in several districts, including Batala, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and by the State Special Operations Cell.

One of the major cases connected to Dalam is an alleged double murder in Hoshiarpur. An FIR was registered at Bullowal police station in October 2024 in connection with the killings.

Police said Dalam had earlier been traced to the United Arab Emirates before he moved to Moldova. Investigators also allege that he used a forged passport while trying to stay ahead of law enforcement agencies.

The extradition was carried out as part of Operation Eastern Reach, an international effort led by Punjab Police to locate the fugitive. The operation involved the Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF), the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC), central agencies and Indian diplomatic authorities.

Punjab Police officials said cooperation from authorities in Moldova and Azerbaijan, along with assistance from the CBI’s International Police Cooperation Unit and the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs, played an important role in bringing Dalam back.

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the successful extradition shows that criminals hiding abroad can no longer assume they are beyond the reach of Indian law enforcement.

The development is being viewed as an important step in Punjab’s wider crackdown on gang networks operating from outside India, particularly those accused of directing criminal activities and recruiting shooters from overseas.

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