Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, a wanted gangster-turned-terrorist, has been detained in the United States. As per reports from India Today, Happy Passia has been detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He reportedly has ties with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.
The arrest comes after months of investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Punjab Police, who had earlier confirmed that Passia was hiding in the US. The agencies had been working to track him down and had even announced a ₹5 lakh reward for information leading to his capture.
Involvement in Multiple Attacks
Passia had taken responsibility for several terrorist attacks in India. On September 11, 2024, a hand grenade was thrown at a house in Sector 10 in Chandigarh, by two youths, reportedly acting on his instructions. He also claimed responsibility for bomb blasts at police stations in Amritsar and Gurdaspur last year and a blast at Ludhiana district court three years ago.
Links to Pakistan-Based Terror Group
According to the NIA, Passia is an operative of Harvinder Singh Rinda, a terrorist linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), which is a Pakistan-based terrorist group known for spreading violence in India. Passia is believed to have worked closely with BKI and received support from Pakistan’s ISI.
Authorities had also issued a lookout notice and sent legal notices to his residence. With his detention in the US, Interpol assistance may be used to bring him back to India to face trial.
