Saturday | May 03 2025 | 03:34:56 AM
New Delhi, April 22
Following the arrest of the alleged Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, who is linked to several terror attacks in Punjab, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel assured that “justice will be done”.
Praising the efforts of the team, Patel in a post on X highlighted that FBI Sacramento led the investigation in collaboration with Indian authorities.
He further said, “FBI Sacramento conducted the investigation, coordinating with our partners locally as well as in India. Excellent work from all, and justice will be done. The FBI will continue finding those who perpetrate violence -- no matter where they are.”
The FBI and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested Harpreet Singh on April 18. He is linked to two international terrorist groups and entered the US illegally. To avoid detection, he used burner phones.
In a post shared on X, FBI Sacramento mentioned, “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.”
Singh is also wanted for his involvement in a foiled plot to carry out terror attacks during the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, which took place from January 13 to February 26 this year, officials from UP Police added.
As per a dossier prepared by the Punjab Police on Passia, he was accused of orchestrating 14 grenade attacks, one IED blast and one Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack in the state.
Happy Passia is a native of Pachhia village in Ajnala, Amritsar. He left India for Dubai on April 1, 2018, and returned on February 4, 2019. He thereafter travelled to the United Kingdom on October 11, 2020, and moved to the United States from there. The dossier notes the serial numbers of two Indian passports issued in his name. A Blue Corner notice was issued against him on January 17, 2025, and the issuing of a red corner notice is in progress.
Passia was initially aligned with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and gang, including his US-based associates Darmanjot Singh (Darman Kahlon) and Amritpal Singh (Amrit Bal). His links with the Bhagwanpuria gang marked Passia’s foray into organised crime, laying the foundation for his subsequent collaboration with Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Rinda, a designated individual terrorist under the Unidentified Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, and the most active node of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
