California [US], April 18 (HBTV): The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) on Friday arrested Harpreet Singh, a terrorist involved in attacks in Punjab, in Sacramento, California.

According to the FBI, Harpreet Singh is linked to two international terrorist organisations and had entered the United States illegally. He allegedly used burner phones to evade law enforcement.

In a statement shared on X, FBI Sacramento said: ‘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 used burner phones to evade capture.’

On March 23, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had chargesheeted four operatives of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) group in connection with the 2024 Chandigarh grenade attack case. The chargesheet named Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, based in Pakistan, and US-based Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia as the principal conspirators.

The investigation revealed that the two provided logistics, funds, weapons, and ammunition to ground operatives in India to execute the attack. The September 2024 grenade attack targeted the residence of a retired Punjab Police officer.

Further inquiries established that Rinda and Harpreet Singh orchestrated the attack to instill fear among law enforcement and the public as part of BKI's broader terrorist agenda. They recruited Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were tasked with carrying out the assault under their direct instructions. The assailants conducted multiple reconnaissance missions before launching the attack.

The NIA chargesheet, filed before the Special NIA Court in Chandigarh in case RC15/2024/NIA/DLI, invoked multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, and other laws.

Investigations are ongoing to trace other members of the BKI and dismantle its network in India.

In a related case, the Punjab Police in December last year dismantled a Pakistan-ISI-backed module of Babbar Khalsa International being operated by Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia and Shamsher alias Honey. Five members, including mastermind Abhijot Singh, were arrested for lobbing hand grenades at police establishments in Batala and Gurdaspur.

(ANI)