Happy Passia, Wanted Gangster Accused In 14 Terror Attacks In Punjab, Arrested In US

Gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, accused of plotting 14 terrorist attacks in Punjab, has been detained in the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was also wanted by India's top anti-terror body, the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Announcing his arrest, FBI Sacramento said in a post on X: "Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the FBI & ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the U.S. illegally and used burner phones to evade capture."

Passia's detention is being viewed as a massive success for Indian security agencies. The NIA had announced a Rs 5 lakh reward for any information on the gansgter.

Passia allegedly has ties with the banned terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International organisation, and had claimed responsibility for an attack in January 2025, in which a senior police officer's vehicle exploded near the Gumtala police post in Punjab's Amritsar.

While the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, initial reports suggest it may have been caused by a carburettor blast. At the time of the incident, a very few personnel were present at the police post, as most of them were deployed on duty at nearby checkpoints.

Notably, a carburettor is a part of the car which is used to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine.

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Following the attack, Passia issued a warning of similar such blasts in the future, after claiming the responsibility of the attack, which he claimed was carried out in retaliation for police atrocities against his family.

However, he distanced himself from a previous encounter in Pilibhit, where three men from Gurdaspur who were killed in an encounter by the police, stating they were not not affiliated with his gang.

As many as 16 grenade attacks have been reported in Punjab recently, with attacks targeting police posts, residences of public figures, and religious sites. BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia is among those leaders who have been attacked in the last seven months. 

Passia is also believed to be a close associate of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda. Passia allegedly plotted the Chandigarh Sector 10 grenade attack while he was allegedly working for Rinda.

"The grenade attack, which targeted former Jalandhar SP Jaskirat Singh Chahal and his family, was carried out by two persons — Rohan and Vishal Masih — who escaped after hurling the grenade. Passia later claimed responsibility for the attack on social media," an Indian Express report said quoting an officer.

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