Chandigarh: Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, has raised concerns over the use of social media by Pakistan-based intelligence operatives to recruit young people from Punjab into organised criminal networks.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on November 8, Yadav said criminal networks were increasingly exploiting digital platforms to approach, influence and recruit youngsters for unlawful activities.
The DGP appealed to parents and members of society to work together to prevent young people from being drawn into crime. He stressed the importance of family involvement and community support in steering vulnerable youth away from criminal networks.
His remarks came after Punjab Police secured the deportation of fugitive gangster Gurwinder Singh, alias Afridi, from Ethiopia following a 10-month international manhunt under Operation SHAHID.
Social Media Emerging as a Recruitment Channel
According to Yadav, Pakistan-based intelligence operatives are using social media to identify and recruit young people from Punjab for criminal activities.
He pointed out that organised criminal networks are increasingly relying on online platforms to establish contact with youngsters and draw them into unlawful operations.
The DGP urged parents and society to remain alert to such attempts and play an active role in preventing youth from falling into criminal activities.
Yuva Sanjh Initiative Focuses on Counselling and Rehabilitation
Highlighting the Punjab Police’s community policing efforts, Yadav referred to the Yuva Sanjh initiative, which aims to help misguided youngsters return to the mainstream.
The initiative focuses on:
- Counselling: Helping young people move away from criminal influences through guidance and support.
- Family involvement: Encouraging families to participate in the process of rehabilitation.
- Community engagement: Building cooperation between police, families and society to prevent youth from entering criminal networks.
- Reintegration: Supporting vulnerable youngsters in returning to mainstream social life.
The DGP said collective efforts by law enforcement agencies, parents and society were necessary to protect young people from organised crime.
Gurwinder Singh Afridi Deported from Ethiopia Under Operation SHAHID
Yadav’s remarks followed the deportation of fugitive gangster Gurwinder Singh, alias Afridi, from Ethiopia. Punjab Police secured his return after a 10-month intelligence-led international operation, code-named Operation SHAHID.
The operation was conducted by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in coordination with the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) of the Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence wing, with support from central agencies.
According to police, Afridi was a key operative of the Doni Bal–Prabh Dassuwal gang and was allegedly directing targeted killings, extortion-related firing incidents and other organised criminal activities in Punjab while operating from abroad.
The Punjab government had announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
International Coordination Behind the Deportation
The operation involved intelligence gathering, surveillance and tracking across several countries in Asia, South America and Africa.
Ethiopian authorities detained Afridi on November 6, following which his deportation was secured. Punjab Police took him into custody at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on November 8.
The DGP acknowledged the cooperation extended by the Ministry of External Affairs and other central agencies in facilitating the operation.
The deportation forms part of Punjab Police’s efforts to track down fugitives operating from foreign countries and take action against organised criminal networks.
Read Also: Punjab Empowers Six Senior IPS Officers to Exercise Preventive-Detention Powers Under PIT-NDPS Act
