Gangster Happy Passia, who is allegedly behind 14 terrorist attacks in Punjab, has been detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to sources who spoke to mediapersons.
Passia, who was wanted by India's premier anti-terrorism agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), had been the subject of an extensive manhunt. The NIA had even announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for any information leading to his capture.
Passia, who reportedly has links with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror group, claimed responsibility for a significant attack in January 2025.
During this attack, a senior police officer’s vehicle was destroyed near the Gumtala police post in Amritsar, Punjab. While the precise details of the explosion remain unclear, sources have speculated that it may have been caused by a carburettor blast, a device related to the engine's air-fuel mixture system.
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At the time of the attack, few police officers were present at the post, as the majority were deployed at nearby checkpoints. Following the incident, Passia not only took responsibility for the attack but also issued threats of future explosions, citing police actions against his family as retaliation.
He claimed that the three individuals from Gurdaspur, who were killed in a police encounter in Pilbhit, were not affiliated with his gang.
Passia's detention in the United States marks a significant victory for Indian security agencies, as they continue to combat terrorism and criminal activities linked to global networks.
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