Who Is Harpreet Singh Alias Happy Passia? Wanted Gangster Behind 14 Terrorist Attacks In Punjab Arrested By FBI
Washington DC: Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) According to the FBI, he used burner phones to evade capture.
In a post shared on X, FBI Sacramento stated, "Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the FBI and ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the U.S. illegally and used burner phones to evade capture."
FBI Sacramento's Post:
On Thursday, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the United States on Thursday (local time). Passia is a wanted gangster-turned-terrorist. He reportedly plotted 14 terrorist attacks in Punjab.
The arrest came after months of investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Punjab Police, who had earlier confirmed that Passia was hiding in the US. Authorities had also issued a lookout notice and sent legal notices to his residence. With his detention in the US, Interpol assistance may be used to bring him back to India to face trial.
Who Is Harpreet Singh AKA Happy Passia?
Passia is a native of Ajnala tehsil in Punjab's Amritsar, and has been declared an absconder in the case registered on October 1, 2024. He is wanted in 17 criminal cases. He has charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Narcortics Act and Arms Act.
Passia is a close associate of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda. He has reportedly been involved in several terrorist activities in Punjab and has tied with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and banned Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
The NIA announced a bounty of Rs five lakh against Passia in the recent case of the hand grenade attack on a house in Chandigarh. The attack, carried out on a residence in Sector 10/D in Chandigarh, falls under multiple charges, including sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act, and Indian Penal Code.
On March 23, the NIA chargesheeted four terror operatives of the BKI terrorist organisation in the 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack case. The chargesheeted accused include Pakistan-based Designated Individual Terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, and US-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, reported ANI.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that Harpreet Singh is linked to two international terrorist groups and entered the US illegally.
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