📷 Image: TOI India (via NewsData)
Crime
Punjab gangster Gurwinder ‘Afridi’ deported from Ethiopia after 10‑month hunt, Rs 5 lakh reward offered
✍️ TOI India
🗓 08 Nov 2026, 09:43 AM
👁 7
After a ten‑month international manhunt, Punjab gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi was deported from Ethiopia, with authorities having announced a Rs 5 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest.
Punjab police confirmed that Gurwinder, popularly known as Afridi, was handed over to Indian officials by Ethiopian authorities on Tuesday, ending a ten‑month chase that began after his alleged involvement in multiple criminal cases in the state. The manhunt, coordinated by Inter‑pol and local law‑enforcement agencies, saw Afridi evade capture by moving across several African nations before being located in Addis Ababa.
The Indian government had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for anyone providing credible information that could lead to his arrest. Officials said the reward was instrumental in gathering tips that ultimately pinpointed his whereabouts in Ethiopia.
Following his deportation, Gurwinder was taken into custody at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where he will face pending charges ranging from extortion to organized crime. Punjab’s Home Minister lauded the cooperation between the two countries, calling the operation a testament to India’s resolve to bring fugitives back to justice.
Legal experts noted that the case underscores the growing importance of international collaboration in tackling cross‑border crime, especially as Indian gangsters increasingly seek refuge abroad. The deportation also sends a strong signal to other fugitives that India will pursue them beyond its borders.
The police have not disclosed further details about the pending court proceedings, but they assured the public that the case will proceed swiftly under the existing legal framework.
The Indian government had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for anyone providing credible information that could lead to his arrest. Officials said the reward was instrumental in gathering tips that ultimately pinpointed his whereabouts in Ethiopia.
Following his deportation, Gurwinder was taken into custody at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where he will face pending charges ranging from extortion to organized crime. Punjab’s Home Minister lauded the cooperation between the two countries, calling the operation a testament to India’s resolve to bring fugitives back to justice.
Legal experts noted that the case underscores the growing importance of international collaboration in tackling cross‑border crime, especially as Indian gangsters increasingly seek refuge abroad. The deportation also sends a strong signal to other fugitives that India will pursue them beyond its borders.
The police have not disclosed further details about the pending court proceedings, but they assured the public that the case will proceed swiftly under the existing legal framework.