Fugitive Pavittar Singh ‘Chaura’ arrested by FBI in US, Punjab cops eye his return | Chandigarh News

Chandigarh: Punjab Police is learnt to be in the process of renewing efforts to bring back absconding fugitive Pavittar Singh alias ‘Chaura’ — one of eight Indian-origin suspects arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the US on July 11 as part of its ‘Summer Heat’ crackdown on gang violence.A Punjab Police officer, who did not wish to come on record, said they were in the process of asking central agencies to bring back the fugitive. It is, however, not yet clear whether the fugitive would be extradited or deported, added the officer. “It is not clear if Pavittar had been living illegally in the US or had a legal status. If he has been living illegally, there is a possibility of his deportation, which is easier,” said the officer.Chaura’s status in the US is a mystery as a Punjab Police dossier mentions he had been arrested in the US earlier too, said the officer. In April 2023, Pavittar (30), a resident of Chaura village in Gurdaspur district, was arrested along with an associate in connection with a Dec 2022 shooting in Woodland, US, according to the dossier. The officer said they believe Chaura got bail in the earlier case. Pavittar, according to the dossier, travelled to Singapore on a student visa on Nov 8, 2016, and then left for the US. “He, most likely, went through illegal means,” said the officer.

According to the officer, in 2023, Pavittar and his associate Husandeep Singh were arrested on charges of attempted murder and criminal conspiracy, as part of a multi-agency crackdown against violent incidents in the US, in what was called ‘Operation Broken Sword’.According to the dossier, between Oct 2013 and Nov 2023, Pavittar was named in 12 FIRs registered at police stations in Punjab — including two for murder, five for attempted murder, and others under the Arms Act and at least one under the NDPS Act. The dossier mentioned him as an accused in a case of cheating and another under the Passport Act and the Prisons Act in an FIR registered in Dec 2022 at state special operation cell (SSOC), Amritsar.Pavittar “has been living in California, USA, for the last few years”, reads the dossier. An open-dated warrant of arrest, a lookout circular (LoC), and a red-corner notice had been issued against Pavittar before July 11. The dossier reads: “He is also having links with banned militant groups such as Babbar Khalsa International.” Another Punjab Police officer said Pavittar and his gang now faced charges of kidnapping for ransom, torture, and possessing illegal weapons in the US. The crimes carry life sentences. “When abroad, Pavittar continued to operate a criminal network in Punjab through local associates. He is believed to have been involved in extortions, targeted killings, and other illegal activities,” the dossier said.