Rajeev Sharma :- Punjab Police has widened its investigation following the arrest of 17 Punjabi-origin youths in Canada in connection with alleged extortion, firing and arson incidents targeting members of the Punjabi business community. The state’s Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) has now joined hands with central agencies to examine the larger network believed to be operating across borders.
Sources said the police are not treating the matter as an isolated overseas crime alone. Investigators suspect possible links between foreign-based gangster groups and modules operating in Punjab, prompting a detailed scrutiny of the accused persons’ backgrounds, travel histories and communication networks.
The arrests were recently made by Canada’s Peel Regional Police during a major crackdown. Among those arrested are several youths of Punjabi origin, including individuals from Brampton and other areas, who are accused of involvement in intimidation, extortion demands, targeted firing incidents and acts of arson. Canadian authorities have reportedly linked the group to 24 separate incidents and framed more than 100 charges in the case.
Punjab Police sources revealed that the OFTEC cell has started collecting details related to the accused, including passport records, travel movements, old mobile numbers and online activity. Information is also being sought through central agencies and diplomatic channels to trace their connections before they moved abroad.
Investigators believe social media platforms and internet-based calling applications are increasingly being used by overseas criminal elements to lure youngsters into organised networks. Officials suspect that recruits are initially assigned minor tasks before gradually being drawn deeper into criminal operations.
The probe is also focusing on digital footprints and possible links with previously identified gangster modules. Sources said Punjab Police already maintains a database related to organised crime networks, foreign-based operatives and suspicious online profiles, and the records of the arrested youths are now being matched against that database.
Security agencies are also examining whether any local support system existed in Punjab for facilitating threats, extortion or logistical assistance on behalf of foreign-based gangs. Senior officials indicated that more inputs have been sought from Canadian authorities and further action could follow in Punjab if concrete links emerge during the investigation.
