Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Jul 18: Two wanted gangsters with links to organised crime syndicates in Punjab and Haryana have been arrested in Angola in a major international operation, with the process to extradite them to India already underway.
The arrested accused have been identified as Varinder Singh alias Joban Saidoke and Manjot. Varinder was wanted in connection with four sensational murder cases in Punjab, while Manjot was facing multiple criminal cases in Haryana.
Police said both were active operatives of the notorious Gopi Ghanshampuria and Dony Bal gangs. The Punjab government had earlier announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Varinder.
The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the crackdown on transnational organised crime involving India-based gangs operating overseas.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Indian national Nitish Kaushal in Vermont under Operation Hard Ball, an ongoing initiative targeting organised criminal syndicates linked to India.
Kaushal, an alleged associate of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, had been placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list just two days before his arrest. He is accused of involvement in murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering and human smuggling.
According to the FBI, Kaushal allegedly carried out acts of violence, including kidnappings and assaults, on behalf of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group. A federal arrest warrant had been issued against him by the US District Court for the Central District of California on June 25 under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The FBI said the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group originated in Punjab and later expanded its operations to the United States and other countries.
Kaushal's arrest followed Operation Hard Wall, a coordinated enforcement drive involving agencies in the United States, Canada and Europe aimed at dismantling the global network of the Bhagwanpuria gang.
Indian authorities are now coordinating with Angolan authorities to bring the two arrested gangsters back to India to face trial in the pending criminal cases.