A man from India suspected of being behind a series of grenade attacks in Punjab has been arrested by US authorities.
Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, was taken into custody in Sacramento by the FBI and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), according to an official statement released on Friday.
Singh is accused of entering the United States illegally and using burner phones to avoid detection. The FBI has described him as a suspect in several terror attacks and stated he has ties to two international terrorist groups.
Indian investigators say Singh is linked to 14 grenade attacks over the past seven months, including strikes on police stations, religious places, and the homes of public figures. One of the most high-profile incidents took place in Chandigarh in 2024, where a grenade was thrown at the house of a retired police officer. Authorities believe Singh was directly involved in planning and supporting this attack.
India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) had placed a reward on Singh earlier this year, offering 500,000 rupees to anyone who could help locate him. In March, the agency filed charges against Singh and three others. Investigators say all four are members of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a group seeking a separate state of Khalistan in northern India. India classifies BKI as a terrorist organization.
According to the NIA, Singh worked closely with another suspect, Harwinder Singh Sandhu, also known as Rinda, to fund and organize attacks in India. The two men are said to have provided weapons, money, and support to operatives inside India to carry out their plans. Sandhu remains at large and is listed as one of the most wanted fugitives by Indian authorities.
Singh is currently being held in US custody and has not made any public statement regarding the accusations. The next steps in his legal case, including possible extradition to India, have not yet been disclosed.