Chandigarh, March 12 – In a major breakthrough against cross-border organized crime, the Punjab Police, in collaboration with central agencies, have arrested Bhuvnesh Chopra, alias Ashish, after he was deported from a Central Asian country to face charges in numerous heinous crimes, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Thursday.
Established at the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the newly-established Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC), operating under the Internal Security wing, played a crucial role in this operation.
DGP Yadav said that to track and restrict the international movements of the accused, Chopra, a Red Notice and Look-Out Circular (LoC) were issued.
"Sustained international coordination eventually traced his location to a Central Asian country, after which he (Chopra) was deported and arrested upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi," he said.
According to information, Chopra, a resident of Ferozepur, was a key figure wanted in connection with high-profile crimes, including the sensational Ferozepur triple murder and multiple narcotics trafficking cases.
The accused has been facing at least nine first information reports (FIRs) in districts including Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Patiala.
DGP Yadav said that Chopra was a major facilitator of narcotics smuggling from Pakistan into Punjab and had managed to escape abroad to evade the law. He said that besides drug trafficking, Chopra was also the prime conspirator behind the August 2024 triple murder in Ferozepur, in which a young girl and two others lost their lives following a rivalry between Chopra and one of the victims, Dildeep Singh.
DGP Yadav said that Chopra’s arrest is expected to significantly disrupt the logistics network of drug consignments entering Ferozepur and neighboring border districts of Punjab, dealing a major blow to cross-border narcotics trafficking operations.
