The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released a strongly worded advisory to all chief secretaries, DGPs, and police commissioners of Union Territories and states. This comes in the aftermath of an unauthorised foreign operation conducted by officers of the Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) in Nepal. The advisory emphasises that no Indian police force is allowed to conduct international investigations without prior approvals from the concerned authorities, especially the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and foreign governments involved.

The Unauthorized Nepal Operation

According to reports, a team of six officers from the AGTF of Punjab Police crossed over to Nepal in late February 2025 and allegedly attempted to apprehend a wanted gangster near a restaurant in the Nagarjun area, on the outskirts of Kathmandu. This incident, which reportedly took place without prior permission, has resulted in a diplomatic embarrassment for India.

The Nepal Police intervened before the operation could proceed. The Indian officers were stopped, and only after high-level diplomatic communication between senior officials in New Delhi and Kathmandu was the situation resolved. The Indian officers were allowed to return to India without escalation.

An unnamed official told Hindustan Times that this unauthorised mission caused “significant embarrassment to the Indian side.”

Nepal’s Official Denial and Silence from Indian Government

Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs denied any knowledge of such an operation. Spokesperson Ramchandra Tiwari, Joint Secretary at the ministry, stated, “We don’t have information about such an incident.” Meanwhile, India has not issued any official statement on the matter.

However, Pramod Ban, head of AGTF in Punjab, commented on the issue stating that the team only went to gather information, and no such operation or detention by Nepal Police happened.

Despite the claims, the incident has triggered concern in both countries and led to greater scrutiny on how cross-border law enforcement operations are managed.

MHA’s Official Communication and Precautionary Measures

Reacting to the controversy, the MHA issued a detailed letter on March 19 addressed to all Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police, and Delhi Police Commissioner. Without naming the country involved, the advisory stated:

“It has been observed in a recent case that a state police team had visited a foreign country for investigations in a criminal matter without prior authorisation from the competent authority in that country, leading to an adverse situation.”

The Home Ministry warned that any such foreign visits without official clearance from the host country and the MEA or Indian diplomatic mission could lead to avoidable diplomatic embarrassment.

The advisory urged that all police departments must “sensitise” their personnel about the importance of following due procedure and obtaining necessary permissions before embarking on any investigative mission abroad.

Why This Advisory Matters

This advisory sets a precedent for tighter control and better coordination in international criminal investigations conducted by Indian law enforcement. In today’s globalised crime network, where criminals often flee across borders, it becomes essential for Indian police to engage in international cooperation — but only through proper channels.

The MEA, through Indian embassies and consulates, plays a crucial role in coordinating with foreign governments. Uncoordinated actions by local police forces can jeopardise diplomatic relations, cause embarrassment, and harm existing international cooperation.

India-Nepal Ties and Past Cooperation

India and Nepal have long-standing ties and frequent collaboration on criminal investigations, especially concerning fugitives or gangsters crossing the open border. However, the recent incident could cast a shadow on such coordination if similar unauthorised actions are repeated in the future.

Both countries are reportedly working to keep the incident under wraps, indicating the sensitivity and potential fallout such unauthorised acts can trigger.

Challenges of Inter-State Coordination

The incident also highlights a gap in coordination between state and central agencies. While law and order is a state subject in India, international relations are under the purview of the Centre. This makes it imperative that state police forces keep central authorities informed when conducting cross-border operations.

The lack of communication between Punjab Police and the MEA or MHA in this case has shown why central oversight is non-negotiable in such matters.

What States Must Do Now

With this advisory, the MHA has clearly outlined the procedure going forward:

• State police forces must seek approval from the MHA and MEA.

• Any foreign probe must be carried out with coordination from Indian missions abroad.

• Sensitivity training and awareness programs should be implemented for all units that deal with transnational crime or criminal intelligence.

Impact on Law Enforcement Strategies

The incident may also result in a temporary freeze or scrutiny on all foreign travel by law enforcement agencies for investigative or intelligence gathering purposes. The balance between operational urgency and diplomatic protocol will become more central to all such missions going forward.

This may slow down operations, but it will ensure greater accountability, legal sanctity, and international goodwill.

Conclusion

The MHA's advisory following the unauthorised operation in Nepal by Punjab Police is a timely reminder of the importance of proper protocol in foreign investigations. The issue not only created diplomatic concerns but also highlighted the urgency of centralised oversight in law enforcement activities that extend beyond national borders.

With the globalisation of crime, the need for cross-border operations is growing, but such missions must be executed with transparency, inter-agency cooperation, and proper authorisation.

This development will likely influence how Indian police forces plan future international missions, and may also lead to updated guidelines or legislation to manage the intersection of state policing and foreign diplomacy more effectively.

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