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First Post
12 hours ago
- First Post
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. The Khalistani terrorist, wanted in several terror, extortion and violence-related cases in India, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Sacramento. But what do we know about Passia, who is on the National Investigation Agency's list of 'most wanted' suspects? read more 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
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Involved in terror, violence and extortion, terrorist Happy Passia to be extradited from US
Law enforcement authorities in the US have acknowledged the requests of the Indian Government regarding the extradition of notorious gangster and terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia to India. Confirming this, senior Punjab Police officers said Monday that Happy Passia's anticipated extradition is seen as a diplomatic victory and a sign of India's strengthened counter-terror collaboration with the United States. 'If extradited, Harpreet Singh will be interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Punjab Police. Our focus will be on uncovering the international network of terror funding, recruitment, and logistics, with particular attention to his links with overseas Khalistani cells and handlers within Pakistan's ISI,' a senior officer said. Another senior Punjab Police officer said the extradition of Passia will present a rare opportunity to expose the technical infrastructure, tradecraft, and digital tools used by terrorist groups to radicalise vulnerable Indian youth and orchestrate attacks on Indian soil from abroad. 'Harpreet's detention and potential extradition are being viewed as a major setback to the ecosystem of overseas-based terrorism that has long targeted India. Terror groups like BKI have leveraged diasporic enclaves and digital platforms to spread anti-India propaganda, raise funds, and plan attacks,' he said. Sources say Passia's interrogation may help Punjab Police to identify recruitment patterns and digital radicalisation tactics, map out funding channels and cross-border collaborators, and neutralise sleeper cells and logistics hubs across North America, Europe, and India. 'This development could also serve as a deterrent for foreign-based operatives who have, until now, exploited safe havens in the West to foment unrest in India. Moreover, it reinforces India's message that those who sponsor or execute terror against the nation, no matter where they hide, will be brought to justice,' another officer said. Who is Happy Passia? Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, a resident of the Passia village in the Ramdas area of Amritsar district, has emerged as a significant figure in a cross-border terror network orchestrated under the umbrella of the proscribed outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), with direct support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Initially associated with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, Passia's criminal trajectory escalated sharply over the years, eventually tying him to radical elements and designated terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda. Under the direction and backing of Pakistan's ISI, officers say Passia and Rinda orchestrated a sustained campaign of terror and extortion across Punjab, Maharashtra, and other states. They added that acting as instruments of ISI's broader agenda to foment unrest and destabilise internal security, their activities targeted police establishments, retired and serving police officers, liquor contractors, businessmen, and socio-religious leaders — intended to create fear and disrupt communal harmony. From Punjab and Dubai to UK and US Happy Passia left for Dubai in 2018, where he became involved in illegal liquor smuggling, and forged connections with criminal cartels and Pakistan-based individuals. He returned to India in 2019, and soon after moved to the United Kingdom on a student visa. There, he came into contact with pro-Khalistani radicals. In 2021, he subsequently entered the United States illegally via the 'donkey route' and took residence with known members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, including Darman Kahlon, who is involved in narco-arms smuggling, and Amrit Bal who is linked to extortion and targeted killings in India between 2020 and 2023. By 2023, Passia had fully aligned himself with Harwinder Singh Rinda, coordinating terror activities under BKI's command. In August 2023, the Internal Security Wing of the Punjab Police uncovered a plan of target killings orchestrated by Rinda and Passia. The Punjab Police have said they have foiled many terror plans masterminded by the Rinda-Passia terror network, arresting several of their local operatives. Key crimes and associates In the following months, Passia shifted his focus toward targeting businessmen, Hindu leaders, and serving or retired police personnel in Punjab. His operations were facilitated by foreign-based associates operating from the US, Armenia, Germany, the UK, and Europe. Key associates include Shehzad Bhatti, Zeeshan Akhtar, a Lawrence Bishnoi gang member wanted in the Baba Siddique murder case, UK-based Nishan Singh, Armenia-based Shamsher alias Honey, Germany-based Swaran Singh, also known as Jeevan Fauji, Europe-based Gopi Nawashehria, and US-based Gurdev Jaisal, among others. In January 2024, Happy Passia, along with Rinda, facilitated the killing of Hardeep Singh from Dera Baba Nanak. The Punjab Police arrested the shooters and recovered the weapon used in the crime. In April 2024, Sandeep Bedi alias Shera was killed by associates of Passia. Investigations later revealed the involvement of an Indian Army deserter, Jeevan Fauji, who subsequently fled to Germany and is now coordinating the activities of the Rinda–Passia terror network from abroad. From September 2024 onwards, there was a marked shift in his strategy as his focus turned almost exclusively to Punjab Police establishments. Between late 2024 and early 2025, under his coordination, 16 terror incidents took place, including grenade attacks, an IED planting, and an RPG strike. His name surfaced either through direct claim of responsibility or through evidence of facilitating his network. The Punjab Police traced all cases and arrested perpetrators and facilitators involved in the grenade blasts. His name also figures in the National Investigation Agency (NIA)'s chargesheet filed in March 2024 in connection with the Chandigarh grenade attack, wherein Rinda and Harpreet were accused of funding, arming, and directing the operatives involved in that attack. The case was initially solved by the Punjab Police before being transferred to NIA for further investigation. In February 2025, Happy Passia and Harvinder Singh Rinda were identified as the masterminds behind the Nanded (Maharashtra) shooting that left one dead and another injured. The Punjab Police have arrested six people in connection with the case including key shooters. Punjab Police officers say Happy Passia functioned as a direct asset of Pakistan's ISI, executing tasks under the direction of Harwinder Singh Rinda to advance its destabilisation agenda in India. Comprehensive dossier As a result of sustained efforts by the Punjab Police, over 1,500 individuals linked to Happy Passia were scrutinised, leading to more than 70 arrests. The Punjab Police busted more than 35 terror modules linked to the Rinda–Passia network involved in targeted killings, grenade attacks on police establishments, and extortion activities. The Internal Security Wing of the Punjab Police maintained a comprehensive dossier on Happy Passia, and regularly shared intelligence with Central agencies. This was coupled with continuous technical surveillance and ground-level human intelligence, ensuring he remained consistently flagged across national security systems. In addition, detailed intelligence regarding his operational activities, including digital footprints, communication patterns, and associations with foreign-based individuals, whether direct or through intermediaries, was routinely relayed to central agencies. 'This seamless exchange of intelligence played a critical role in maintaining national-level situational awareness and supporting the broader counter-terror framework,' a police officer said.
New Indian Express
13 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Khalistani terrorist Happy Passia, wanted in 14 grenade attacks across Punjab, likely to be extradited from US
CHANDIGARH: Happy Passia, an alleged mastermind of 14 grenade attacks across Punjab and a wanted notorious gangster-turned-Khalistani terrorist is likely to be extradited from the United States to India. Highly placed sources said that the US authorities have confirmed to the Indian security agencies that the extradition of Happy Passia, whose real name is Harpreet Singh, who is linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and also has links with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan has been approved. However, there is no official confirmation in this regard. In January this year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) put a reward of Rs 5 lakh on Passia in a case of the hand grenade attack in September last year on a house in Sector 10 of Chandigarh by two youths. The attack targeted a retired Superintendent of Police, Jaskirat Singh Chahal, who served as the Station House Officer (SHO) in Nakodar in 1986, during which four sikh protesters were killed in police firing. In 2021, Passia illegally entered the US through the Mexico border with the help of a human trafficking network and continued to coordinate terror activities from there.
India Today
16 hours ago
- India Today
Extradition process begins to bring terrorist Happy Passia to India from US: Sources
Wanted Khalistani terrorist Happy Passia is set to be extradited from the United States to India in the coming days. Sources within central security agencies have confirmed that Passia, currently in US custody, will soon arrive at Delhi Airport under tight security was arrested on April 17 in California's Sacramento by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following sustained coordination with Indian agencies. He has been on the radar of Indian authorities for his alleged involvement in a series of terror attacks across Punjab, particularly targeting police stations and public National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially declared Passia as a wanted terrorist, placing a Rs 5 lakh reward on him in connection with multiple cases, including the Chandigarh grenade attack. According to intelligence sources, Passia maintained direct contact with top officials of Pakistan's ISI and was actively supported by Khalistani terror outfits, including Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and Harvinder Singh Rinda's network. He is believed to have played a central role in destabilising the region through planned grenade attacks and targeted violence over the past two arrest is being hailed as the result of months-long efforts between the Punjab Police, central intelligence agencies and American law enforcement, who have been jointly tracking Khalistani operatives operating from extradited, Happy Passia will be brought before Indian courts and face prosecution under multiple anti-terrorism laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).His interrogation is expected to offer critical insights into a wider international terror network, with alleged links to both Pakistan's intelligence apparatus and Khalistani separatist groups operating from foreign OF MAJOR ATTACKSBetween 2024 and 2025, Happy Passia allegedly orchestrated or facilitated over 14 terrorist attacks, most of them targeting police stations and personnel in 24, 2024 – Ajnala Police Station: RDX planted outside the station; did not explode. Passia claimed responsibility. Two suspects arrested with hand 27 – Gurbakhsh Nagar: Grenade explosion at an abandoned police 2 – Kathgarh (SBS Nagar): Grenade attack. Three terrorists arrested; arms 4 – Majitha Police Station: Explosion dismissed by police as a tire burst. Former MLA Bikram Majithia shared images suggesting a terror 13 – Aliwal Batala: Nighttime grenade blast. Responsibility claimed by Passia and his 17 – Islamabad Police Station: Initially denied, but later confirmed by Punjab DGP as a terror 16 – Jaitypur, Amritsar: Grenade thrown at liquor trader Amandeep Jaitypuriya's 19 – Gumtala Police Post, Amritsar: Bomb blast. Babbar Khalsa International claimed 3 – Fatehgarh Churian Road: Grenade attack on closed police post. Authorities denied terror 14 – Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur: Low-intensity explosion outside a policeman's 15 – Thakur Dwara Temple, Amritsar: Attack led to a police encounter in which accused Gursidik Singh was killed.- EndsMust Watch
The Print
27-05-2025
- The Print
Punjab cops suspect Babbar Khalsa International link to Amritsar blast that killed 1
An explosion was heard by locals between 9.30 am and 10 am Tuesday morning in the area near Naushera village, which falls under Kambo police station of Amritsar rural district. The person was severely injured while recovering explosive material from an abandoned place near a pole, which triggered the blast, and later succumbed to the injuries in hospital, Border Range Deputy Inspector General Satinder Singh told reporters Tuesday. New Delhi: The individual killed in the blast in Amritsar's Majitha area is suspected to be linked to terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International, Punjab Police have found in the preliminary investigation. 'Prima facie, it appears that the person who got injured in the morning has died. Investigation into all the cases regarding blasts in the past had established that these suspects would keep the explosives or grenades in similar abandoned places. They would share pictures and instructions for retrieval,' the DIG told media persons at the spot. 'The explosive was kept near a pole here for a marker. It appears that the person was a terror suspect belonging to Babbar Khalsa International, and the explosive exploded in the hands of the suspect. The FSL (forensic science laboratory) report will confirm if it was a grenade or an IED (improvised explosive device), but a similar module of retrieval of explosives has come out in 100 percent of similar cases.' While the deceased individual is yet to be identified by Amritsar Rural Police, the DIG added that materials recovered from the pocket of the deceased individual, and other circumstantial evidence strongly indicated that the person belonged to the terror outfit. Amritsar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police Maninder Singh said that the police are in the process of registering an FIR under relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act, while a detailed probe to establish identity of the deceased is currently underway. Banned as a terrorist outfit by the Ministry of Home Affairs, BKI is controlled by Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda. ThePrint had previously reported that modules of BKI, run by US-based gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, attacked several police installations and premises of influential individuals in border districts, starting November last year. These operatives passed on consignments to members of the module without any human contact with each other. Passia was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in April. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav had said last week that another gangster based abroad, Manu Agwan, had assumed 'operational charge' of the BKI after Passia's arrest. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Amritsar hooch tragedy: 'Kingpin', 9 others arrested, Majitha DSP, SHO suspended for negligence
