Chandigarh, March 12 A fugitive wanted in a triple murder and narcotics trafficking case was deported and subsequently arrested, the Punjab Police said on Thursday.
To track and restrict his international movements, a Red Notice and Look-Out Circular were issued.
"In a major breakthrough against cross-border organized crime, the Punjab Police, with the active support of central agencies, has arrested Bhuvnesh Chopra @Ashish, a key accused wanted in the sensational #Ferozepur triple murder and multiple narcotics trafficking cases," Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X.
Sustained international coordination eventually traced his location to a Central Asian country, after which he was deported and arrested upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, the DGP said in the post.
"Bhuvnesh Chopra, also known as Ashish, was a major facilitator of narcotics smuggling from #Pakistan into Punjab and had previously managed to escape abroad to evade law.
"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," he said.
The DGP said Chopra's arrest is part of a sustained crackdown by the Punjab Police on foreign-based handlers and fugitives who orchestrate criminal activities from abroad.
The newly constituted OFTEC (Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell) unit has played a pivotal role in this operation, he said.
"Chopra's arrest is expected to significantly disrupt the logistics network of drug consignments entering Ferozepur and surrounding border districts of #Punjab, dealing a major blow to cross-border narcotics trafficking operations."
"@PunjabPoliceInd remains firmly committed to ensuring that criminals and fugitives from law, whether they hide in India or abroad, are brought back to face the law," the DGP said.
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