Amritpal Singh, also known as Amrit Dalam, a most-wanted gangster allegedly linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, has been detained near the Moldova border, Punjab Police confirmed on Saturday. He is accused of orchestrating extortion calls targeting businessmen in Punjab while operating from abroad.
According to Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police of Punjab, the detention followed the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice requested by Punjab Police in coordination with central agencies. The international alert enabled authorities to locate and detain the accused outside India after sustained tracking efforts.
Police stated that Amritpal Singh is wanted in several serious criminal cases registered in Punjab and had been evading law enforcement by remaining overseas for an extended period. Officials said his detention was made possible through continuous international coordination and persistent follow-up by state and central agencies.
Legal and diplomatic formalities have now been initiated to secure his extradition to India so that he can face prosecution in the pending cases. Authorities described the detention as a significant development in efforts to bring fugitives operating from foreign locations back under Indian jurisdiction.
Investigators said Amritpal Singh maintained close links with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria crime syndicate and was allegedly involved in issuing extortion threats to individuals and business establishments, particularly in the Amritsar region.
He is a native of a village in Batala, located in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. Police records indicate that he is named in at least four criminal cases involving allegations of drug trafficking, murder, and attempted murder, all registered in Gurdaspur.
Punjab Police is currently tracking 61 foreign-based gangsters who are suspected of coordinating criminal activities in the state through local operatives. Amritpal Singh is among those on the list.
To strengthen extradition efforts, the state police has established the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC), a dedicated unit tasked with pursuing offenders hiding abroad. In November, two associates of Amritpal were arrested, and investigators said they had been assigned by him to execute targeted killings.
