Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SP)

New Delhi, Apr 22: FBI Director Kash Patel has assured that justice will be served following the April 18 arrest of Harpreet Singh, a wanted terrorist with links to several high-profile terror attacks in Punjab. Singh, a former gangster-turned-terrorist, was captured in Sacramento, California, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO).

Singh, also known by aliases Happy Passia and Jora, had been evading authorities for years, suspected of planning attacks on police stations both in India and the United States. The FBI, in collaboration with local law enforcement and Indian authorities, was able to apprehend the fugitive, who had been operating with burner phones and encrypted messaging apps to avoid detection.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Patel praised the coordinated effort in apprehending Singh. "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," Patel wrote. He further assured, “Excellent work from all, and justice will be done. The FBI will continue finding those who perpetrate violence — no matter where they are.”

Singh is believed to have strong ties with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). He is also implicated in the October 2024 grenade attack in Chandigarh, which targeted a residence in Sector 10/D. India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his capture.

The arrest emphasizes the ongoing international cooperation between India and the United States in tackling terrorism. Singh’s capture is seen as a major victory in global counterterrorism efforts.