Punjab cops claim key role in his arrest

It was a long-drawn battle of over two years for the Punjab Police to corner gangster-turned-radical Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, in the US leading to his arrest in Sacramento, California, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Thursday.

Police officials claimed that the arrest marked a significant victory for the state police. They had been relentlessly pursuing Passia for his alleged involvement in multiple terror-related incidents across the state. More than 30 operatives of Passia, including an Army jawan, have been arrested for carrying out grenade attacks in the state.

Officials said the Punjab Police played a pivotal role in tracking Passia’s movement and sharing intelligence with the US authorities. Cops compiled a comprehensive dossier detailing Passia’s criminal activities, including grenade attacks, an IED blast, and an RPG attack in Punjab. They said the police collaborated with central intelligence agencies and shared critical information with the FBI’s legal office in New Delhi, which facilitated the arrest.

The pursuit included legal actions through look-out circulars and blue corner notices, which were regularly issued against Passia, highlighting his involvement in terror activities and organised crime.

The challenge of tracking and busting his terror network was not easy but the police followed it from 2023 to 2025. They uncovered Passia’s links with Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

Punjab Police sources said Passia was a key operative of the BKI. He was closely aligned with Rinda, who has been designated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Both of them reportedly operated under the direction and facilitation of Pakistan’s ISI.

Since 2023, the duo had escalated their activities in the state through targeted terror strikes, including arson, extortion, and attacks on police establishments.

Police sources revealed that they exploited vulnerable youth struggling with addiction, recruiting them to carry out these acts in exchange for money and narcotics.

Punjab