NIA Conducts Nationwide Raids on Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) Network in Connection with Chandigarh Grenade Attack
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi, January 22, 2025 – In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday launched a series of coordinated searches across multiple states and Union Territories linked to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist group. The searches are part of the ongoing investigation into the grenade attack on a house in Sector 10/D, Chandigarh, on September 9, 2024.
NIA teams targeted various locations across northern India, including the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The raids focused on properties connected to individuals with alleged links to the US-based terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passian, and his associates.
Searches Across Multiple Locations:
The NIA teams carried out searches in several districts across Punjab – Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, and Ferozepur – as well as in Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh), Rudrapur (Uttarakhand), and in Chandigarh itself. The raids targeted properties of individuals connected to the BKI network, which is believed to be behind the grenade attack.
During the raids, the NIA seized incriminating materials, including mobile phones, digital devices, and documents, that are crucial to the investigation. These materials are expected to provide further insights into the workings of the terror module operating in the region.
The Case: A Terror Plot Exposed:
The grenade attack in Chandigarh was carried out by the arrested accused, Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih, who were allegedly part of a larger conspiracy involving BKI terrorists. The case, registered as RC-15/2024/NIA/DLI, was initiated following the attack, which targeted the residence of a retired police officer. The Ministry of Home Affairs directed the NIA to investigate the incident, leading to the exposure of a complex international terror plot.
Investigations have revealed that the attack was orchestrated by two key figures – Harwinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, and Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passian. Both individuals are reportedly operating from Pakistan and the United States, respectively. They are believed to have masterminded the attack as part of a larger conspiracy aimed at targeting individuals linked to law enforcement.
International Conspiracy and Terror Financing:
The investigation has uncovered a detailed terror network involving the recruitment of local operatives in India by the foreign-based handlers. Sandhu and Passian are alleged to have provided funds, weapons, and logistical support to the ground operatives for carrying out the attack. The conspiracy also involved smuggling terror hardware into India using a “dead drop” model, where weapons and explosives were hidden at undisclosed locations for later retrieval.
The investigation further revealed that the terror group had planned multiple attacks and had been actively recruiting individuals within India to execute their criminal acts.
Ongoing Investigation:
While the NIA has made significant progress in dismantling the terror module linked to the Chandigarh grenade attack, investigations are still ongoing. The agency is working to uncover further details of the international terror network, including possible links to other terror attacks in India and abroad.
The operation highlights the growing threat of cross-border terrorism and the role of international networks in financing and coordinating violent attacks on Indian soil. The NIA’s raids and investigations are expected to yield more evidence as they continue to pursue the remaining individuals involved in the conspiracy.
