Chandigarh, March 13: The Punjab Police, in a coordinated effort with central agencies, arrested fugitive Bhuvnesh Chopra alias Ashish at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday. The arrest followed the suspect’s deportation from a Central Asian country where he had reportedly fled to escape legal proceedings related to multiple heinous crimes, including a triple murder.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that a Red Corner Notice and a Look-Out Circular had been previously issued to restrict the international movement of the accused. He noted that sustained international coordination eventually traced Chopra’s location, leading to his deportation and subsequent arrest upon arrival in New Delhi.
The DGP maintained that Chopra, a resident of Ferozepur, served as a major facilitator for narcotics smuggling from Pakistan into Punjab. The suspect was wanted in connection with at least nine FIRs registered across Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Patiala districts. Beyond drug trafficking, officials declared Chopra the prime conspirator in an August 2024 triple murder in Ferozepur, which claimed the lives of a young girl and two others.
The operation was executed with the assistance of the newly-constituted Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC). This specialized unit was established under the Internal Security wing following directions from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to track high-profile fugitives.
DGP Yadav asserted that this arrest is expected to significantly disrupt the logistics network of drug consignments entering border districts. He affirmed that the apprehension of such a key figure deals a major blow to cross-border narcotics trafficking operations in the region.
