On April 18, 2025, US authorities detained Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, a wanted Indian fugitive with both India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Punjab Police wanting him in relation to several terror-related cases.
The detention was done jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Sacramento, California.
Confirming arrest on social media, the Sacramento division of the FBI wrote, "Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist suspect who is credibly linked to two global terrorist organizations, came into the US illegally and concealed his presence here by using "burner phones," was taken into custody by the #FBI & #ERO in Sacramento."
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav also posted the news on his official X account, describing Singh as an important operative of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), an organization supported by Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI. He further mentioned that Singh was in close contact with Pakistan-based designated terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda. "This arrest has been a big step ahead in the continuing mission against ISI-sponsored terror groups," Yadav said.
During the period from 2023 through 2025, Singh is accused of being instrumental in overseeing targeted killings, extortion operations, and grenade attacks targeting police officials in Punjab as well as across the region. The April 17 arrest has been credited as a culmination of intense collaboration and intelligence exchange between Indian and U.S. authorities. "@PunjabPoliceInd continued to share information with central agencies," Yadav further stated.
Having transformed at the mere age of 29 from being a gangster to a wanted terrorist, it is suspected to have links to no less than 16 terror episodes, which consist of as many as 14 grenade explosions. The NIA had already given a reward of ₹5 lakh for anyone leading them to capture him, mainly in regard to a September 2024 grenade attack on Chandigarh.
The authorities disclosed that Singh initially went to Dubai in April 2018, came back in February 2019, then shifted to the United Kingdom in October 2020, before reaching the U.S. His initial contacts were said to be with members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, which introduced him to Rinda.
Rinda, who fled to Pakistan between 2018–19, is accused of smuggling weapons, explosives, and drugs into India, recruitment for BKI, commission of murders, and extortion for funding terror activities in Punjab and Maharashtra. Rinda and Singh together are said to have plotted many attacks, such as a Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack close to the Qila Lal Singh police station in Batala, Punjab, on the night of April 6–7.
Only last month, the NIA charged four suspected BKI members—Rinda, Singh, Rohan Masih, and Vishal Masih—with the September 2024 grenade attack in Chandigarh. The agency alleged that Singh and Rinda were key players in the operation, supplying funds, weapons, and logistical support to their local partners.
According to the NIA, the Chandigarh attack was aimed at a retired Punjab police officer believed to be living at the targeted residence. “Investigations revealed that Rinda, along with Happy Passia, had orchestrated the conspiracy to strike terror among law enforcement officials and general public through the grenade attack, as part of the broader aim to promote BKI’s terrorist agenda,” the agency said. The two local recruits, Rohan and Vishal Masih, are said to have carried out the operation on their behalf.
The NIA had previously raided several locations linked to Singh in Punjab, including Amritsar, Bathinda, Gurdaspur, and Ferozepur, as well as some areas of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh. Rohan and Vishal Masih were subsequently arrested.
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