EFFORTS ON TO EXTRADITE PASSIA, SAYS PUNJAB DGP

NIA, in January, announced a reward of ₹25 lakh on Passia in connection with a 2024 grenade attack in Chandigarh

- HT Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Gangster-turned-terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, wanted in multiple attacks in Punjab, including a series of grenade blasts, was arrested in the United States, officials said on Friday.

According to a statement posted by FBI, Sacramento, on X, Passia is accused of being involved in terror attacks in Punjab and is allegedly affiliated with two international terrorist organizations. He was arrested by FBI and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

US authorities added that Passia entered the US illegally and used burner phones to avoid detection.

"Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the FBI and ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the U.S. illegally and had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications," the FBI said in a statement on X.

Agents from the FBI's Legal Attaché office in New Delhi informed Sacramento that Passia was wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab, FBI Sacramento added. "This case reinforces the importance of international cooperation in apprehending those who threaten global security," it said.

Official sources in Punjab said Passia is wanted for orchestrating at least 16 terror attacks, including 14 grenade blasts in the state and is also suspected to have collaborated with proscribed Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).