Gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, wanted in Punjab grenade attacks, arrested by FBI in US

Harpreet Singh arrested by the FBI ( Photo: @FBISacramento/X)

Absconding gangster Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, who is allegedly responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, was arrested by the FBI in the US on Friday, April 18. Passia is a close associate of Harvinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, a gangster-turned-terrorist based in Pakistan.

The FBI Sacramento released a statement on X, noting, “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.”

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. pic.twitter.com/vObj2xPa8Q

FBI Sacramento (@FBISacramento) April 18, 2025

Central intelligence agencies in India have confirmed that Harpreet Singh has been detained in the US. Earlier this year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for information regarding Happy Passia due to his alleged involvement in grenade attacks on a house in Chandigarh and several police stations in Punjab.

In the past seven months, 16 grenade attacks have been reported in Punjab, targeting police posts, religious sites, and the residences of public figures, including BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia. Passia’s name has emerged in investigations related to at least 14 of these attacks.

An Indian Express report, citing sources, stated that the NIA has received information from their counterparts and is sharing details of all cases in which Passia was allegedly directly involved.

The NIA has filed an application in the Chandigarh District Court seeking an arrest warrant against Passia concerning the hand grenade attack on a house in Sector 10, Chandigarh, on September 11 of last year. Investigations into this attack revealed that Passia allegedly orchestrated it while working with Rinda. The grenade attack targeted former Jalandhar SP Jaskirat Singh Chahal and his family. Two assailants, Rohan and Vishal Masih, carried out the attack and escaped afterward. Passia later claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, according to an officer.

Last year, after questioning several associates of Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, alias Landa, a Canada-based Khalistani terrorist, and Rinda, the NIA discovered that while Rinda and Landa had stopped collaborating, Rinda had begun working with Passia. Their new syndicate was purportedly involved in raising terror modules and carrying out terror activities in Punjab, as per a senior official.

In 2023, Passia formed an alliance with Rinda to establish terror modules in Punjab. “He illegally entered the US in 2021 with the assistance of an illegal human trafficking network,” the official stated.

Notably, Rinda is also believed to be connected to the murder case of Sidhu Moosewala in 2022. The Delhi Police initially registered a case naming two Punjab gangs, and the investigation was later taken over by the NIA, which is probing the alleged nexus between Punjab gangs and terror networks.