Harpreet Singh, Arrested by FBI for Punjab Terror Attacks
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Synopsis
Harpreet Singh, accused of executing terror attacks in Punjab, was arrested by the FBI and Enforcement and Removal Operations in California. He is linked to multiple grenade attacks and was charged under various laws by the NIA.
Key Takeaways
- Harpreet Singh has been arrested by the FBI.
- He is linked to 16 grenade attacks in Punjab.
- The NIA has charged him under multiple laws.
- He used burner phones to avoid detection.
- Ongoing investigations aim to dismantle the BKI network.
Chandigarh, April 18 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against Harpreet Singh, accused of orchestrating terror attacks in Punjab, who was apprehended by US security forces – the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Enforcement and Removal Operations in Sacramento, California.
The FBI announced on Friday that Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, illegally entered the US and utilized burner phones to avoid detection.
Originating from Passia village in Ajnala, the suspect is linked to a minimum of 16 grenade attacks across Punjab, which targeted police stations, religious venues, and residences.
On March 23, the NIA charged four members of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist outfit in relation to the 2024 Chandigarh grenade assault.
The individuals named in the charge sheet include Harwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, a designated terrorist based in Pakistan, and US-based Happy Passia.
Both Sandhu and Passia acted as the main orchestrators behind the assault, providing logistical assistance, funding for terrorism, and supplying arms and ammunition to operatives in India for executing the grenade attack, as stated by the NIA.
The attack, which took place in September 2024, aimed to target a retired Punjab Police officer, presumed to be residing at the targeted location.
NIA inquiries have disclosed that Rinda, along with Passia, plotted to instill fear in law enforcement and the public through the grenade incident, which aligned with the broader goal of promoting the BKI's terrorist agenda.
They enlisted local operatives, Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were given direct orders to execute the attack.
Rinda and Passia directed the other accused, Rohan and Vishal Masih, to conduct reconnaissance of the target on two occasions prior to launching the grenade, as investigations revealed.
In the charge sheet presented to the Special NIA Court in Chandigarh, all four individuals face multiple charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, and other relevant provisions for their involvement in planning and facilitating the attack.
Ongoing investigations are focused on tracking additional members of the BKI terrorist network and dismantling its operations in India.
