NEW DELHI: In a major breakthrough in the fight against cross-border terrorism, US-based Khalistani terrorist Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, is being brought back to India to face trial for his involvement in a string of deadly attacks across Punjab.
Singh, a native of Amritsar, Punjab, was arrested on April 18 in the United States by teams from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He had been in ICE custody since his arrest and is now set to be extradited to India, according to official sources.
The 37-year-old is accused of carrying out at least 16 terror attacks, including multiple hand grenade assaults on police stations in Punjab and the United States. He is believed to have operated in close coordination with Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI and the proscribed Khalistani terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
Following his arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel praised the coordinated operation between Indian and American security agencies. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“Captured Harpreet Singh, part of an alleged foreign terrorist gang here illegally in the United States, who we believe was involved in planning multiple attacks on police stations both in India and the United States… Excellent work from all, and justice will be done.”
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been actively pursuing Singh, announcing a ₹5 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest earlier this year. He is named in over 30 criminal cases, ranging from terrorist conspiracy to attempted murder, explosives use, and cross-border financing of terror networks.
One of the high-profile cases in which Singh is wanted involves a hand grenade attack on a residential building in Chandigarh, which took place in October 2023. The NIA registered a case and began tracking Singh’s international activities soon after.
Authorities say Singh played a key role in reviving Khalistani terror networks with funding and logistical support from Pakistan. He reportedly used his base in the US to direct operatives in India, helping to smuggle weapons, plan strikes, and recruit youth for radical causes.
Investigators have linked Singh to several radical modules operating in Punjab, and believe his return to India could help expose deeper ISI-Khalistan connections.
Singh’s extradition is a significant development in India-US counterterrorism collaboration. It comes at a time when both nations are ramping up intelligence sharing and coordination to track transnational extremist networks.
His return is also expected to boost India’s efforts to clamp down on pro-Khalistan elements operating from foreign soil, particularly those using US, Canada, and the UK as safe havens.
Sources say Singh will be brought to India under heavy security and formally arrested by the NIA upon arrival. He will be produced before a special NIA court and interrogated further to uncover the full scope of his network and handlers.
As the case unfolds, authorities hope the extradition will send a strong message to fugitive terrorists that India will leave no stone unturned to bring them to justice — no matter where they hide.
