Chandigarh grenade attack case: Terrorist Happy Passia arrested in US

An Indian, wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab and who is alleged to have collaborated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been arrested by the FBI, the US agency said.

FBI Sacramento revealed that Harpreet Singh, who is part of two international terrorist groups, entered the US illegally and used burner phones to evade capture.

US-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia was among the four accused chargesheeted in the Chandigarh grenade attack case.

Agents from the FBI's Legal Attache office in New Delhi, India, informed Sacramento that Singh was wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab, India, FBI Sacramento said.

Singh is suspected to have collaborated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

"He had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications. This case reinforces the importance of international cooperation in apprehending those who threaten global security," FBI Sacramento said.

Earlier this month, Abhijot Singh of Gurdaspur (Punjab) was taken into custody by the NIA, which identified him as the unknown person whose role had surfaced during investigation in the case, said the statement issued by the probe agency.

Abhijot, already in prison for another grenade attack at a police station, was found to have been in direct contact with Happy and an important part of the conspiracy, it said.

The NIA investigations have revealed that Abhijot on Happy's directions had conducted detailed reconnaissance of the target location multiple times in July and August 2024. He had also arranged a motorcycle with a fake number plate for use in the execution of the crime. The vehicle was found to have been stolen, the NIA said.

The investigations have also revealed that Happy had provided pistols to Abhijot and another previously arrested accused Rohan Masih during August 2024.

In January, National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on gangster Harpreet. He is wanted in a case of hand grenade attack on a house in Chandigarh.

He is a native of Ajnala tehsil in Amritsar, Punjab. Singh is an absconder in the case registered on October 1, 2024, in connection with the hand grenade attack carried out on a house in Sector 10/D, Chandigarh.

(With PTI inputs)