Washington: In a significant shift in the U.S. stance on Khalistan-linked violence, FBI Director Kash Patel has described the arrest of Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia in Sacramento as the “capture” of a member of a “foreign terrorist gang,” signalling that the U.S. under a Trump administration has begun to officially categorise Khalistani extremists as terrorists, not merely militants.
Harpreet Singh, a 28-year-old designated terrorist affiliated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), was apprehended by the FBI on April 17. He was allegedly plotting attacks on police stations in both India and the U.S. According to Patel, “The FBI will go after those who perpetrate violence,” a strong warning to Khalistani radicals operating abroad.
Singh, who holds an Indian passport (S9219200), is believed to have entered the U.S. illegally via the UK. His handler, Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, is a Pakistan-based designated terrorist and top commander of BKI.
“The FBI is coordinating with their Indian counterparts, the NIA, to bring up charges against Passia,” Patel stated on X, underlining a growing cooperation between U.S. and Indian agencies to curb cross-border extremism.
Passia’s terror record is long. Between late 2024 and early 2025, he is accused of being involved in at least 16 terror strikes across Punjab — including 14 hand grenade attacks, an IED blast, and one RPG assault. He also has 10 FIRs registered against him in India.
Passia’s transformation from a petty criminal to a terrorist is attributed to his alignment with figures like Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and U.S.-based operatives Darmanjot Singh (aka Darmon Khalon) and Amritpal Singh (aka Amrit Bal). He eventually graduated to full-blown terror activities after establishing links with Rinda in Pakistan.
The terminology change from U.S. federal agencies is particularly significant. Until recently, the FBI and CIA refrained from calling groups like BKI, Khalistan Zindabad Force, and similar outfits “terrorist organisations”, even as Indian agencies like NIA and RAW consistently classified them as such. Many Khalistanis found shelter in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Germany under the guise of political asylum and human rights activism.
These extremists have also been accused of radicalising Sikh youth, targeting retired Indian police officers, and funneling terror funding through Gurdwaras in the West.
Analysts believe Patel’s unequivocal statement is intended to “put the fear of god” into Khalistani elements abroad who use social media to attack Indian interests, often with minimal support on the ground.
Passia’s travel history also shows a deliberate attempt to evade scrutiny. He left India for Dubai on April 1, 2018, and returned in early 2019. By October 2020, he had left for London and later entered the U.S., never returning to India.
