&w=3840&q=100)
Who is Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, Khalistan terrorist, likely to be extradited to India?
Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, is set to be repatriated to India shortly. Image/X-FBIDirectorKash
A Khalistani terrorist arrested in the US in April is set to be brought to India.
Harpreet Singh, aka Happy Passia, is set to be repatriated to India shortly.
Passia is wanted for several terror, extortion and violence-related cases in India.
He has been in custody of the US authorities for the past few months.
Who is Passia, who is on the National Investigation Agency's list of 'most wanted' suspects? What do we know about him?
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Let's take a closer look:
Who is Passia?
Passia is a resident of Amritsar's Pachhia village.
He hails from a family of farmers. His father has passed away.
His other immediate relatives are a mother and a younger sister.
Passia is wanted in over a dozen cases including under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Passia has been linked to at least 14 grenade attac
His criminal career began with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang.
Passia later linked up with the Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Rinda, who is part of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror group.
The BKI is a proscribed terror group in India.
Passia left for Dubai in April 2018 and returned to India in February 2019.
He then headed to the United Kingdom in 2020 – from where he went to the United States.
He is said to have entered the US via the Mexico border using an illegal human trafficking network.
Happy Passia later linked up with the Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Rinda, who is part of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror group. Reuters
From September to October 2023, Passia and Rindra carried out several extortion and terror acts in Punjab.
They would attempt to extort contractors and businessmen in Batala and Amritsar.
The state police has smashed many terror and criminal modules from the Passia-Rinda group.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
These were targeting Hindu groups and their leaders, policemen who are on the force and have retired, liquor contracts and businessmen.
They would use the money they extorted for terrorism.
Between late 2024 and early 2025 the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) carried out over a dozen attacks in Punjab.
This included placing an Improvised Explosive Device under Ajnala police station in November 2024 and an attack on the Qila Lal Singh police station in Gurdaspur.
The home of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoranjan Kalia was also targeted.
The attacks were carried out by Passia alongside Rinda's US-based connections – Gurdev Singh alias Jaisal Pehalwan, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nawansharia and Germany-based Swaran Singh alias Jeevan Faujia.
The network is said to have targeted minors suffering from drug addictions to carry out terror attacks.
A 17-year-old is said to have planted the IED at Ajnala police station after being lured with drugs and cash.
The NIA in January 2025 announced a Rs 5 lakh award for any information on Passia.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
A Blue Corner notice was issued against Passia in January.
A Red Corner notice is currently in progress.
This was for his alleged role in a grenade attack on the home of a retired police office in Chandigarh in September 2024.
The NIA referred to Passia and Rinda as 'terrorists' and the 'primary handlers and masterminds behind the attack'.
'They had provided logistical support, terror funds, weapons and ammunition to India-based on-ground operatives in Chandigarh for executing the grenade attack,' it said.
'Investigations revealed that Rinda, along with Happy Passia, had orchestrated the conspiracy to strike terror among law enforcement officials and the 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 said.
Evasion and arrest
Passia is said to have used several burner phones to evade capture by the authorities.
He was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Sacramento.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The FBI described him on X as an 'alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India'.
FBI director Kash Patel in April had vowed that justice would be done.
'Captured Harpeet Singh, part of an alleged foreign terrorist gang here illegally in the United States, who we believe was involved in planning multiple attacks on police stations both in India and the United States,' Patel wrote on X.
'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,' Patel added.
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ahmedabad plane crash: UK air investigators 'reviewing' preliminary safety report
The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) on Sunday said that it is in the process of reviewing its Indian counterpart's preliminary report into the London-bound Air India AI171 plane crash moments after take-off from Ahmedabad last month. The report by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is based on the initial findings of their probe into the crash, whcih claimed the lives of all but one of the 242 passengers and crew. The UK AAIB is also part of the investigatory process as it involved the death of 52 British nationals on board. "The UK AAIB welcomes the publication of this preliminary report, which is a summary of factual information uncovered so far by the AAIB India investigation," UK AAIB said in a statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chisinau: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo "The UK AAIB are in process of reviewing this preliminary report in detail and remains in communication with AAIB India. The UK AAIB has 'expert' status in the Indian safety investigation. In accordance with international protocols, release of information on the investigation rests solely with the Indian authorities," it said. A 15-page preliminary investigation report into the disaster revealed fuel-control switches of the two engines moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position, within the space of one second, leading to immediate loss of altitude. In the cockpit voice recording, one pilot is heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel. The other denied having done so. Live Events The UK-based families who lost loved ones in the June 12 crash have called for a mechanism of expert representation in the investigatory process. Keystone Law, which is advising over 20 of these families, welcomed the more "defined area of investigation" around the fuel control switches but stressed that "antiquated laws" excluded those impacted from participating. "The families now understand there is a more defined area of investigation, but one of their bigger concerns is that they are excluded from this safety investigation," said James Healy-Pratt, Aviation Partner at Keystone. "Ideally, there should be some mechanism for which there can be expert representation for those families that can feed into the combined safety work that's going on. And don't forget, it's an international product. It's not only the Indian AAIB, the British AAIB have been helping, as have the Americans. So ideally, the families should have some form of input into that," he said. Earlier this month, the firm was formally retained by the victims' families to work with Air India's lawyers and insurers through the claims process in London, described as "constructive ongoing discussions" by Healy-Pratt. He highlighted that the families also want to get access to the information about the history of the fuel controls and problems that were made known about them, as per the AAIB preliminary report. They fear a "potentially inadequate safety regulation response" from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is said to have provided a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) that led to Air India not carrying out inspections as it was "advisory and not mandatory". "We want to do a deep dive into the US courts to get evidence so that the families get some answers, because that may well be a quicker way of getting answers than sitting around waiting for the safety report to come out in two years' time," said Healy-Pratt. "I suppose the positive thing is that 90 per cent of the theories and the speculation can actually now fall away," he added. Of the 53 British nationals on board only one passenger named Vishwas Kumar Prakash on seat 11A miraculously survived from the wreckage of the smashed Boeing 787 Dreamliner last month.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Sonu Nigam wins legal relief as HC blocks fake posts by Bihar lawyer under his name on X
Sonu Nigam secured a court order against a Bihar lawyer. The lawyer impersonated Nigam on X. He posted controversial content. This caused confusion and backlash for the singer. The court directed the impersonator to display his full name. Advocate Hiren Kamod presented evidence of the impersonation. He highlighted the online abuse faced by Nigam. Sonu Nigam has finally found legal relief after months of online chaos caused by a case of digital impersonation. The Bombay High Court has stepped in to stop a Bihar-based lawyer from misusing the singer's identity on X (formerly Twitter), where the impersonator had been posting politically charged and communally sensitive content under Nigam's name. According to a report by Bar and Bench, Sonu Nigam approached the Bombay High Court alleging a violation of his personality rights by a Bihar-based criminal lawyer named Sonu Nigam Singh. The lawyer had been posting politically and communally sensitive content on X using the handle 'Sonu Nigam', leading to widespread confusion. The singer faced backlash for posts he had no connection to, prompting him to seek legal intervention. On Friday, Justice RI Chagla of the Bombay High Court granted an ex-parte interim order in favour of Sonu Nigam, as per Bar and Bench. The court directed the impersonating user, Sonu Nigam Singh, to clearly display his full name on X to prevent any further misrepresentation. Representing Sonu Nigam, advocate Hiren Kamod argued that Sonu Nigam Singh intentionally concealed his true identity while posting politically and communally sensitive content, misleading the public into believing the posts were made by the singer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists Recommend: Eat 1 Teaspoon Tonight – Wake Up With a Flatter Stomach Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo Kamod submitted 14 such examples, highlighting how Singh had built a following of over 90,000—including public figures—by exploiting Nigam's name. One controversial post targeted BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, questioning his stance on Kannada films and stirring linguistic tensions. Advocate Hiren Kamod also informed the court that among the impersonator's 90,000 followers are prominent figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former minister Smriti Irani . He argued that the misleading posts had triggered a wave of online abuse directed at Sonu Nigam and his family. Highlighting the severity of the issue, Kamod told the court that the singer has been facing relentless hate and confusion since August 2024 due to the impersonator's activity. Notably, Sonu Nigam had officially quit X (formerly Twitter) back in 2017. The National Award-winning singer now only maintains an active presence on Instagram, where he shares updates about his work, glimpses into his daily life, and personal reflections.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Police probe gunshot injury claims near Kalkaji market, victims refuse to give statement
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): Delhi Police are investigating an alleged incident of firing near the main market area of Kalkaji following a PCR call late on Thursday night, in which two young men claimed to have suffered gunshot injuries. However, police say no evidence of a firing has been found so far at the alleged site. According to the Police, 'A PCR call was received at 11:15 pm on 11/7/25 where the caller said that he and his friend had received Gun Shot Injury near Kalkaji main Market T Point Jain Shikanji, Deshbandhu College.' Both injured persons, identified as Dev Malik (20), son of Manoj Malik, a resident of Shyam Nagar, Okhla Phase 3, and Nirbhay Bhati (24), son of Jitender Bhati, from Gali No. 16, Tughlakabad Extension, were reportedly taken to Safdarjung Hospital for treatment. According to the Police, 'Efforts were made to record the statement of the injured; however, both refused to give their statement and told that they will give their statement at PS and get the SOC identified after getting discharged from the hospital.' As per the medical legal certificate (MLC), the injuries sustained by both individuals were categorized as contusions and lacerations. In the preliminary inquiry, police found no signs of a firing at the location mentioned in the PCR call. No empty cartridges were recovered, and local residents did not report any gunfire in the vicinity at the stated time. Law enforcement officials are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the area to ascertain any movement or activity that could be linked to the alleged incident. Further updates are awaited as the investigation continues. Meanwhile, on July 8, a 7-year-old boy named Aryan, son of Neetu and Sanjay, was injured in a firing incident that took place near Azadpur Terminal under the Adarsh Nagar Police Station area at around 10 pm, according to police officials. The Delhi Police confirmed on Tuesday that a case has been registered and an investigation is underway. Speaking from the trauma centre, Neetu, Aryan's mother and an eyewitness, told police that three youths armed with firearms suddenly arrived and opened fire. 'I, along with my son (Aryan), Ranjeeta, and Nikhil, was standing on the footpath near the Foot Overbridge, which is opposite the main gate of MCD Colony, Azadpur. They were about to go back home. Just then, suddenly, three boys named Laddu, Shamsher, and Shanu from Jahangirpuri arrived there,' she said. She added, 'They had firearms in their hands and opened fire on them. Aryan sustained two bullet injuries and was rushed to the Trauma Centre with the assistance of Azadpur picket staff.' Following the incident, the Crime Team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were called to the spot. An FIR (No. 564/25) has been registered under sections 109(1)/3(5) of the BNS and 25/27/54/59 of the Arms Act dated July 8, 2025. A search operation to locate the accused is currently underway. (ANI)
