Notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria has been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) from Bathinda Central Jail and transferred to Silchar Jail in Assam. He has been held under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act.
Punjab Police sources said that a joint team of the police and the NCB brought Bhagwanpuria from Bathinda to Chandigarh on Saturday and that he was flown to Assam via Delhi and Kolkata.
In 2024, the police and the NCB began invoking the PIT-NDPS Act, which allows detention without bail for up to a year, more actively to crack down on drug traffickers. In August, Balwinder Singh, alias Billa Havellian, became the first detainee under the Act in Punjab to be sent to Dibrugarh Jail in Assam. In September 2024, the NCB secured detention orders for two more drug traffickers, Akshay Chhabra and Jaspal Singh (alias Goldy), who were also sent to Dibrugarh. These three detentions were part of a broader initiative where the Anti-Narcotics Task Force proposed 17 drug traffickers for detention under the PIT NDPS Act.
In December 2023, the Border Security Force submitted a list of 75 suspected smugglers to the police for preventive detention under the PIT- NDPS Act, though it’s unclear how many of these proposals were acted upon.
Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, born Jagdeep Singh, hails from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. He is widely known for his deep involvement in organised crime, including drug trafficking, extortion, and murder. Emerging as a significant figure in the criminal underworld in the early 2000s, Bhagwanpuria has earned a reputation for ruthless tactics and ability to maintain influence despite repeated encounters with law enforcement.
Bhagwanpuria’s rise to prominence was marked by his leadership of a criminal syndicate operating primarily in Punjab and extending to neighbouring states. His gang is heavily involved in the drug trade, particularly the smuggling of heroin and other narcotics from Pakistan and Afghanistan into India. This illicit activity has significantly contributed to the drug epidemic plaguing Punjab. Beyond drug trafficking, his operations include extortion and violent crimes, often resulting in deadly clashes with rival gangs and law enforcement.
Bhagwanpuria is believed to have continued to orchestrate criminal activities from within prison walls, reportedly using smuggled mobile phones and a loyal network of associates. In recent years, police have intensified efforts to dismantle his syndicate, arresting numerous associates and seizing substantial quantities of drugs and weapons.
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Despite crackdowns, Bhagwanpuria remains a key player in Punjab’s criminal landscape, with his influence extending beyond the state and even connecting to international drug cartels.
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