US federal authorities have arrested an Indian national accused of coordinating a series of terror attacks in India’s Punjab state, the FBI confirmed Friday.
The suspect, identified as Harpreet Singh and also known by the alias “Happy Passia,” was taken into custody in Sacramento through a joint operation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). The FBI said Singh had illegally entered the United States and had been using burner phones in an attempt to evade capture.
In a post on social media platform X, the FBI described Singh as an “alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India.”
According to local Indian media, Singh is suspected to be linked to 14 out of 16 grenade attacks carried out in Punjab over the past seven months. The attacks targeted police stations, religious institutions, and homes of prominent public figures, including one incident in 2024 involving a grenade assault on a residence in Chandigarh city.
India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) claims Singh was involved in a January 2024 attack aimed at a retired Punjab police officer. In March, the NIA filed formal charges against Singh and three other individuals, alleging they were part of a larger terror network under Babbar Khalsa International (BKI)—a group the Indian government has designated as a terrorist organization.
The NIA also implicated Harwinder Singh Sandhu, widely known as Rinda, as Singh’s accomplice and co-conspirator. The agency’s statement called the duo the “primary handlers and masterminds behind the attack,” alleging they supplied funds, weapons, and logistical support to operatives based in Chandigarh.
“They orchestrated the conspiracy to strike terror among law enforcement officials and the general public,” the NIA said.
While Singh is now in US custody and has not yet publicly responded to the allegations, the whereabouts of Sandhu remain unknown. He is listed as a “most wanted” suspect by Indian authorities.
In January, the NIA announced a reward of 500,000 rupees (approximately $5,855) for any information leading to Singh’s capture.
It remains unclear whether US authorities will move to extradite Singh to India.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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