UP Police to Seek Custody of Gangster Harpreet Singh After Name Surfaces in Terror Probe Linked to Babbar Khalsa International

The Uttar Pradesh Police is preparing to question Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia, an alleged gangster with suspected links to international terror networks, after his name came up during an ongoing investigation into a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module.

Singh, who had long been on the radar of Indian security agencies for his alleged involvement in both organized crime and terror-related activities, was recently apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States.

According to officials, Singh’s arrest in the U.S. marks a significant breakthrough in a series of probes targeting the Babbar Khalsa International network — a banned Khalistani separatist outfit known for its links to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, and its role in planning and executing terror activities in India.

The Uttar Pradesh Police first became interested in Harpreet Singh’s name earlier this year, following the arrest of another suspected BKI operative, Lajar Masih. Masih was apprehended in March in the Kaushambi district, specifically in the Kokhraj area, in a joint operation executed by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Punjab Police.

His arrest came months after he had dramatically escaped police custody in September the previous year, making him a key target for the Punjab Police and security agencies across the country.

During Masih’s interrogation, investigators uncovered leads pointing to Harpreet Singh’s possible involvement in facilitating or coordinating terror-related operations on behalf of BKI.

Senior police officials have suggested that Singh may have played a role in larger transnational conspiracies connected to the group’s militant objectives.

Following Masih’s capture, police registered a case against him under terror-related charges. Authorities alleged that Masih had been actively planning an attack during the Maha Kumbh Mela, a major religious congregation that was held in Prayagraj earlier this year.

The Maha Kumbh, which spanned 45 days and concluded on February 26, had drawn millions of devotees from across India and abroad, making it a potential high-value target for terrorist groups seeking to cause mass casualties and disrupt public order.

Upon Masih’s arrest, security personnel recovered a cache of highly dangerous materials from his possession, including hand grenades, gelatin sticks, detonators, and a pistol.

This discovery only intensified suspicions of a well-orchestrated terror plot involving multiple operatives and potential international coordination.

Confirming these developments, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash stated that Harpreet Singh’s name had surfaced during Masih’s interrogation, strengthening the belief that the gangster was an active player in the network supporting BKI’s activities.

Yash further added that once Harpreet Singh is extradited to India from the United States, the Uttar Pradesh Police will formally request permission to interrogate him in connection with the terror plot allegedly uncovered during Masih’s arrest.

Singh’s long history of criminal involvement, combined with his alleged support for Babbar Khalsa International, had previously prompted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to announce a reward of ₹10 lakh for information that would lead to his capture.

Masih, originally a resident of Amritsar in Punjab, is accused of being an active member of Babbar Khalsa International — a proscribed terrorist organization responsible for several violent acts in India and known to maintain close ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The revelations emerging from his interrogation have once again spotlighted the cross-border dimensions of terror plots designed to destabilize India’s internal security.

Law enforcement agencies are now treating the case as part of a broader attempt by BKI to reactivate its sleeper cells and operational networks in northern India, especially in sensitive states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

With Harpreet Singh’s arrest in the U.S. and potential extradition on the horizon, Indian authorities are hoping to unravel more details about the terror group’s recruitment methods, funding routes, and operational links both within India and abroad.