Happy Passia, Mastermind Behind 14 Grenade Attacks in Punjab, Arrested in the US

Harpreet Singh, Alias Happy Passia, Arrested in the US: Key Figure Behind Punjab Terror Attacks

Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, one of the most wanted terrorists responsible for more than 14 recent grenade attacks in Punjab, was arrested on Friday by the FBI in Sacramento, California. The arrest is a major success in the ongoing process to fight terror attacks emanating from global networks.

In a statement released by the FBI Sacramento on X (formerly Twitter), Singh is alleged to have been involved in multiple terror activities in Punjab and is said to have ties with two foreign terrorist groups. Law enforcement officials announced that he came into the United States illegally and used burner phones to remain under the radar of law enforcement.

In the press release, the FBI said, “Today, Harpreet Singh, a suspected terrorist who carried out terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the FBI and ERO in Sacramento. Tied to two foreign terrorist organizations, he entered the US unlawfully and utilized burner phones in an attempt to avoid apprehension.”

Happy Passia has surfaced as a key player in a new chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in relation to a grenade blast in Chandigarh that took place in September 2024. The blast was specifically aimed at the house of a retired Punjab Police officer and was part of a coordinated conspiracy hatched by the proscribed terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

The NIA claims that Passia, who worked from the US along with Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu, also referred to as Rinda, were the masterminds of the attack. They reportedly offered logistical support, money, and arms to handlers in India. According to reports, they instructed local recruits, who were identified as Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, to carry out reconnaissance tasks prior to carrying out the attack.

All four of those involved in this case have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosive Substances Act, and other laws. The case is ongoing as registered under RC15/2024/NIA/DLI, as the authorities look to track down and break down the remaining pieces of the BKI network.

During an earlier operation in December 2023, Punjab Police effectively foiled a terror module reportedly sponsored by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and managed by Happy Passia and another handler, Shamsher alias Honey. This incident resulted in the arrest of five people, including the mastermind Abhijot Singh. It was an operation involving grenade attacks on police facilities in Batala and Gurdaspur.

In Punjab, Passia has been requested in at least 18 criminal cases, all relating to acts likely to cause terror or communal disturbance.

A top Punjab Police official affirmed that Indian central agencies are intensively investigating Passia and other like-minded cases together with the law enforcement authorities in the United States. Happy Passia‘s arrest is expected to shed great insight into a great many pending cases and measures for combating trans-national terror groups.