Harpreet Singh, widely known by his alias Happy Passia, a most-wanted terrorist implicated in over 14 grenade attacks across the Indian state of Punjab, was apprehended in the United States on Friday in a high-profile joint operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Sacramento, California. The FBI confirmed the arrest in an official statement, noting that Singh had entered the U.S. illegally and relied on burner phones and other deceptive tactics to evade law enforcement. Authorities revealed that Harpreet Singh is linked to two international terrorist organizations, including the proscribed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), which is officially designated as a terrorist group under Indian law and has been associated with numerous acts of terror against the Indian state.

Harpreet Singh’s name has featured prominently in a recent chargesheet filed by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), specifically in connection with the grenade attack carried out in September 2024 in Chandigarh. That attack, targeting the residence of a retired senior Punjab Police officer, was part of a larger transnational terror plot orchestrated by Babbar Khalsa International, a Khalistani separatist group that seeks to establish an independent Sikh state. According to the NIA’s findings, Harpreet Singh, while operating remotely from U.S. soil, was in close collaboration with Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu, also known by the alias Rinda, another most-wanted figure in India’s anti-terror radar. The NIA alleges that both men were key conspirators in the Chandigarh attack, acting as strategic coordinators who supplied logistical assistance, financial resources, and weaponry to on-ground operatives inside India.

The chargesheet further states that Harpreet Singh and Rinda directed and guided Indian-based recruits — identified as Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih — to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance on the intended target’s residence before executing the grenade attack. These operatives were not only trained but were also under constant communication with Singh and Rinda via encrypted channels. The attack, while not resulting in casualties, sent shockwaves across Punjab, triggering heightened security and intensified investigations into the networks facilitating cross-border terrorism.

Officials noted that Harpreet Singh’s arrest in the U.S. is a significant breakthrough in India’s broader effort to dismantle terror networks with roots in both Pakistan and the diaspora abroad. His use of forged documents, illegal entry, and burner phones underlines the sophisticated methods employed by fugitive terrorists to stay off the radar while continuing to orchestrate violence in their home country. U.S. authorities are now coordinating with their Indian counterparts on the possible extradition of Singh to stand trial in India, where multiple criminal cases, including those related to terrorism and unlawful activities, await him.

This arrest also highlights the increasing cooperation between Indian law enforcement agencies such as the NIA and international bodies like the FBI, especially in combating transnational terrorism that spans across continents. With Singh’s capture, security agencies hope to gain further insights into the operational structure and communication methods of terrorist outfits like Babbar Khalsa International, which remains active in plotting attacks against Indian interests while exploiting foreign territories as operational bases.

The capture of Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia not only serves as a warning to other fugitive operatives attempting to evade justice abroad but also reiterates the global consensus on the need to crack down on individuals and networks engaged in terrorism. As the investigation proceeds, more revelations are expected to emerge regarding the funding sources, recruitment channels, and international collaborators involved in the larger conspiracy spearheaded by Singh and Rinda. Indian agencies are now pushing for swift extradition, viewing this development as a crucial step in curbing the resurgence of Khalistani extremism that has seen sporadic but alarming spikes in recent years.