Chandigarh: In a major breakthrough against the gangster-terror nexus in the state, Punjab Police on Saturday secured the extradition of fugitive gangster Amritpal Singh, alias Amrit Dalam, from the Republic of Moldova. This marks the force’s first-ever extradition of a criminal from a European nation.
A four-member AGTF team led by superintendent of police Bikramjit Singh Brar was stationed in Moldova for over a week to finalise the legal and operational details. Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav described the operation as a historic milestone in combating transnational organised crime. Following an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) issued at the request of Punjab Police, Moldovan courts formally approved his extradition order on May 26, 2026. Dalam appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal Centru dismissed his plea on July 16, 2026, paving the way for his return.
“The success of Operation Eastern Reach was made possible through sustained surveillance and close coordination between the AGTF Punjab, OFTEC Punjab, central agencies, and our international law-enforcement partners,” Yadav said. The team escorted Dalam back to India via a transit route through Baku, Azerbaijan, landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi early on Saturday morning, where he was immediately taken into custody.
