The Punjab Police have expanded the scope of their investigation following the arrest of 17 youths of Punjabi origin in Canada, who were implicated in incidents involving extortion—through threats against Punjabi businessmen—as well as shootings and arson. The Punjab Police’s Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) is now in constant contact with central investigative agencies and has begun the task of thoroughly scrutinizing the entire network associated with the arrested youths.
According to sources, the Punjab Police do not view this matter merely as a crime confined to Canada; rather, they perceive it as a potential network connecting gangs operating abroad with active modules within Punjab. Consequently, the OFTEC cell has been entrusted with the responsibility of examining the arrested youths’ background records, travel history, past contacts, and potential links to organized gangs. The Peel Regional Police in Canada recently took action, arresting 17 youths of Punjabi origin. Among those arrested are 25-year-old Iqbal Singh Bhagadiya of Brampton, 24-year-old Akashdeep Singh, 25-year-old Ravinder Singh, 21-year-old Jashanbir Singh, as well as Dilawarpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Prabhdeep Sohal, Pratapbir Ghumman, Ajaydeep Singh, and Navrop Singh, among others.
**Arrest Also Made in the US**
Gautam Gautam, a 22-year-old resident of California, USA, has also been arrested. All these individuals face charges of involvement in incidents such as extortion—by threatening businessmen—as well as shootings and arson. According to Canadian agencies, 24 incidents have so far been linked to this network, and 106 charges have been filed.
The OFTEC cell has commenced gathering data regarding the arrested youths’ names, travel records, passport details, past mobile numbers, and social media activities. In this regard, information has also been sought through central agencies and the Ministry of External Affairs.
**Police Scrutinizing Family Records**
The Punjab Police are actively working to ascertain which districts and villages these youths hail from, and with whom they were in contact prior to traveling abroad. Investigative agencies believe that gangs operating from overseas are now establishing contact with the youth of Punjab through social media and internet–based calling services.
Initially, these youths are utilized for minor tasks; subsequently, they are gradually integrated into larger criminal networks. Consequently, the police are conducting a thorough examination of the digital footprints and past associations of the arrested individuals.
**Punjab Police Cross-Referencing Against Their Data Bank**
According to sources, the Punjab Police have, over the recent past, compiled an extensive data bank comprising information on gangster networks, criminals active abroad, and suspicious social media profiles. The records of the youths arrested in Canada are now being cross-referenced against this existing data. Agencies are striving to determine whether these youths had any prior links to specific gang modules that were already under surveillance.
Investigative agencies also suspect that certain gangs based abroad are exploiting local youth in Punjab to orchestrate petty crimes, issue threats, and operate extortion rackets.
Against this backdrop, the OFTEC (Organized Crime Control) Cell is now collaborating with central agencies to unravel the intricacies of this entire criminal network. According to senior officials of the Punjab Police, additional inputs have currently been requested from Canadian authorities. Should the investigation reveal a direct link to Punjab, enforcement actions may also be initiated within the state in the coming days.
