The Punjab Police arrested fugitive Bhuvnesh Chopra alias Ashish, wanted in connection with the sensational triple murder in Ferozepur and multiple cross-border narcotics trafficking cases. The arrest followed his deportation from a Central Asian country and subsequent detention upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
Background of the Fugitive
Chopra was a key facilitator of narcotics smuggling from Pakistan into Punjab and had previously escaped abroad to evade law enforcement. He was the prime conspirator behind the August 2024 Ferozepur triple murder, which claimed the lives of a young girl and two others, stemming from a rivalry with one of the victims, Dildeep Singh.
International Coordination and Arrest
To restrict his international movements, a Red Corner Notice (Red Notice) and a Look-Out Circular were issued. Through sustained coordination with central and international agencies, authorities traced Chopra to a Central Asian country. He was deported and immediately arrested upon arrival in India.
Operational Details
The newly established OFTEC (Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell) played a pivotal role in this operation. Punjab Police stated that Chopra’s arrest is expected to significantly disrupt the logistics network of drug consignments entering Ferozepur and surrounding border districts, delivering a major blow to cross-border narcotics trafficking operations.
The DGP, Gaurav Yadav, emphasized that this arrest forms part of a sustained crackdown on foreign-based handlers and fugitives orchestrating criminal activities from abroad.
