FBI Arrests Terror Suspect Happy Passia in US, Links Found to ISI and Babbar Khalsa
The FBI has arrested Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia in Sacramento is suspected ties to Pakistan’s ISI and Khalistani group Babbar Khalsa International, authorities confirmed.
Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Sacramento. According to an official statement, Singh had entered the United States illegally and was wanted for multiple terror-related cases in India.
“Singh is suspected of collaborating with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI),” the FBI Sacramento office stated. BKI is a designated terrorist organization under Indian and international law.
Indian intelligence officials say Singh has been linked to 16 major terror attacks across Punjab over the past two years. These include 14 grenade attacks, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast, and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) strike.
One of the most high-profile attacks attributed to Singh occurred in January 2025, when a senior police officer’s vehicle was targeted near the Gumtala police post in Amritsar using a carburettor-based IED. A grenade attack on a retired Punjab Police officer’s residence in Chandigarh in September 2024 is also believed to have been orchestrated by him.
Punjab Director General of Police described Singh’s arrest as “a major milestone in the sustained crackdown on ISI-backed terror networks.” The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously declared a ₹5 lakh reward for information leading to Singh’s capture.
Indian authorities, including the NIA and Punjab Police, have already submitted formal extradition requests to the US for Singh’s repatriation.
Investigations show Singh began his criminal career with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang before aligning with Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, a key figure in Babbar Khalsa’s modern network.
The duo reportedly developed a terror-extortion network targeting liquor contractors, businessmen, and Hindu leaders. They made extortion calls, carried out arson attacks on liquor shops, and orchestrated shootings to fund terrorist operations.
Police reports also highlight how the group lured drug-addicted minors to plant explosives in exchange for money and narcotics. In one case, a 17-year-old arrested in December 2024 confessed to placing an IED near Ajnala Police Station for Rs 30,000 and a promised drug supply.
Authorities have identified international associates linked to Singh’s operations, including Gurdev Singh Jaisal Pehalwan and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nawanshehria, both based in the US, and Swaran Singh alias Jeevan Faujia, operating out of Germany.
