
Accused of grenade attacks in Punjab, gangster Harpreet Singh nabbed in US
Punjab has witnessed 16 grenade attacks over the last seven months targeting police posts, religious sites, and residences of public figures
Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, an absconding gangster named in 14 grenade attacks in Punjab, has been detained in the United States, reported The Indian Express, citing Indian intelligence officials.
In a post on X, FBI’s Sacramento office said, “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.”
Also read: Punjab LoP Bajwa booked for ‘50 bombs’ remark; Mann asks if he has Pak links
Punjab has witnessed 16 grenade attacks over the last seven months targeting police posts, religious sites, and residences of public figures, including senior BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia.
NIA chargesheet
His name has cropped up during investigations into at least 14 such attacks, the IE report added.
Earlier this year, the NIA chargesheeted four terror operatives of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in the 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack case.
Passia along with Pakistan-based designated individual terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda were among those named in the chargesheet filed before the Special NIA court in Chandigarh, ANI reported.
“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. They had recruited local operatives, namely Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were tasked with carrying out the attack under their direct instructions,” the agency had said.
Also read: Punjab: 'Blast' outside BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia's house in Jalandhar
On January 22, the NIA carried out searches at 16 locations across Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in connection with the last year's Chandigarh grenade blast case linking Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed Harwinder Singh Sandhu and US-based Happy Passia.