Punjab Police has extradited gangster Amrit Dalam from the Republic of Moldova. This is the force’s first ever extradition from a European country. The operation was carried out on Friday with help from central agencies and international partners. Amrit Dalam, whose real name is Amritpal Singh, is a key operative of category A gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed the development on X on Saturday. He called it a major milestone in the fight against organised crime.
Who is Amrit Dalam and why was he wanted?
Amrit Dalam was one of the most wanted operatives linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang. Punjab Police records show he was named in serious criminal cases. According to the DGP, Dalam was booked under several serious laws. He faced charges related to:
- Seven murder cases
- Multiple cases of attempt to murder
- The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, known as UAPA
- The Arms Act
- The Explosives Act
- The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, known as NDPS Act
Dalam had been operating from abroad for years. He allegedly helped run the Bhagwanpuria network’s activities in Punjab while staying out of reach of investigators.
How did Punjab Police carry out the extradition?
Punjab Police credited the success to a dedicated operation called Operation Eastern Reach. This was a six month intelligence led international manhunt. Two specialised units led the effort. These were the Anti-Gangster Task Force, known as AGTF, and the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell, known as OFTEC.
A four member AGTF team travelled to Moldova to complete the process. The team was led by SP Bikramjit Singh Brar. It included Inspector Pushvinder Singh, Sub-Inspector Jaspreet Singh and ASI Varinder Kumar.
The team spent seven days in Moldova. They held meetings with local authorities to finish extradition formalities. Dalam was then flown to India through a transit route via Baku in Azerbaijan. The AGTF team landed in New Delhi on Friday morning with the fugitive in custody.
Operation snapshot
| Detail | Information |
| Operation name | Operation Eastern Reach |
| Duration of manhunt | Six months |
| Units involved | AGTF and OFTEC, Punjab Police |
| Days spent in Moldova | Seven days |
| Transit route | Via Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Arrival point | Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi |
What did the Punjab DGP say about this extradition?
DGP Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, Punjab, wrote on X on September 12, 2026, “This is the first ever extradition secured by Punjab Police from a European country, marking a significant milestone in our fight against organised crime.“
He thanked several agencies for their support. These included the Moldovan authorities, Azerbaijan authorities, the International Police Cooperation Unit of the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs. Police officials said the operation reflects growing coordination between state police, central agencies and international law enforcement partners. This coordination has become important as gangsters increasingly try to run operations from outside India.
Why does this extradition matter for Punjab Police?
Punjab Police has extradited fugitives from other countries before. However, this marks the first successful extradition from anywhere in Europe. It shows the force can now track and bring back gangsters even from distant jurisdictions.
Jaggu Bhagwanpuria remains a category A gangster on the Punjab Police radar. His network has been linked to gang rivalries, including violence connected to the Bambiha gang. Punjab Police has continued to target his associates through arrests and extraditions. The Dalam extradition adds to a pattern of Punjab Police widening its reach beyond state borders. Officials say more such operations against overseas fugitives are expected as coordination with foreign agencies deepens.
For residents across Punjab, the case signals that distance from India no longer guarantees safety for wanted criminals. Punjab Police is expected to share further updates as the investigation into Dalam’s activities continues.