FBI Arrests Harpreet Singh: Key Suspect in Punjab Terror Attacks

Harpreet Singh's Arrest and Charges

Chandigarh: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charges against Harpreet Singh, who is accused of orchestrating terror attacks in Punjab. He was apprehended by U.S. authorities, including the FBI and the Enforcement and Removal Operations, in Sacramento, California.

According to the FBI's announcement on Friday, Singh, also known as Happy Passia, had entered the United States unlawfully and utilized burner phones to avoid detection.

Originating from Passia village in Ajnala, Singh is implicated in at least 16 grenade assaults across Punjab, which targeted police stations, religious sites, and private residences.

On March 23, the NIA charged four operatives from the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist group in connection with a grenade attack in Chandigarh that occurred in 2024.

The individuals charged include Harwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, who is based in Pakistan, and Happy Passia, who resides in the U.S.

Both Sandhu and Passia were identified as the main conspirators behind the attack, providing logistical support, funding, weapons, and ammunition to operatives in India for executing the grenade assault, as per the NIA's findings.

The attack, which took place in September 2024, was aimed at a retired Punjab Police officer, believed to be residing at the targeted location.

Investigations by the NIA indicated that Rinda and Passia had planned the attack to instill fear among law enforcement and the general public, aligning with BKI's broader terrorist objectives.

They enlisted local operatives, Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were instructed to carry out the attack under their direct orders.

Rinda and Passia directed Masih and Masih to conduct reconnaissance on the target site twice before launching the grenade, according to the investigation.

In the chargesheet submitted to the Special NIA Court in Chandigarh, all four accused face multiple charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, and other relevant laws for their involvement in planning and facilitating the attack.

The investigation remains ongoing, with the NIA actively seeking to identify and dismantle additional members of the BKI terror network in India.