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After Happy Passia, Punjab Police seeks to get six more US-based gangsters nabbed

The six have been involved in crimes ranging from extortion and murder to weapon smuggling and Khalistani terrorism, often at the behest of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence.

Gangsters Amritpal Singh Bal and Gurjant Singh Bholu (Express photo)Gangsters Amritpal Singh Bal and Gurjant Singh Bholu (Express photo)

The police in Punjab is now actively following up the cases of six US-based individuals who are actively engaged in orchestrating terrorist and criminal activities in India at behest of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). The authorities stepped up the effort following the arrest of Khalistani terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia in the US.

Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel described Passia as a member of a “foreign terrorist gang”, and added that “the FBI will continue finding those who perpetrate violence — no matter where they are”.

The remarks by Patel, the first Indian-American to lead the premier law enforcement agency of the US, has fuelled hope back home in India of a greater cooperation and efforts in tracing out gangsters and terrorists holed up in that country.

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The Punjab Police is focussing on Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Bal, Gurdev Singh alias Jaisal, Satbir Singh alias Satnam alias Satta, Gurjant Singh alias Bholu, Rajesh Kumar alias Sonu Khatri, and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nawanshahria.

All these individuals have been involved in crimes of extortion, murder and terrorism including the latest spate of grenade blasts in Punjab with the latter being undertaken with Khalistani separatists based in Pakistan.

Senior police officials confirmed that the issue regarding the apprehension of these individuals by US law enforcing bodies, including FBI and ICE, has been taken up through the agencies concerned at the Centre. “Comprehensive dossiers regarding the crimes conducted by these individuals along with the fact that they have entered USA illegally on forged documents have been presented to the authorities in India and they have, in turn, been actively following it up with their US counterparts,” said a senior police officer.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said, “We are in touch with central agencies and making efforts to get them back to India to face the law”.

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Punjab Police officers who are dealing with the matter say that more success is expected in these cases in the coming weeks as the US administration under President Donald Trump has intensified action against persons who have entered that country illegally. “There is a major focus on people who are also wanted for crime in their countries of origin and to deport them forthwith. This is a golden opportunity for us to get our hands on these persons who are actively involved in spreading unrest in Punjab,” said a senior officer.

Brief profiles of the six:

Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nawanshahria

Gopi Nawanshahria Gopi Nawanshahria

From village Birowal in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) district, Nawanshahria is known for his involvement in high-profile criminal activities, including murder, extortion, and terrorist conspiracies. He is believed to be a key figure in a network with links to the Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda and the proscribed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Nawanshahria gained attention for his role in the murder of former BKI militant Rattandeep Singh on April 3, 2024, in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. He fled to the United States in May 2024, using a counterfeit passport and is reportedly hiding in California.

Nawanshahria’s criminal history includes orchestrating attacks on police infrastructure, such as the December 13, 2024 grenade attack on Ghania Ke Bangar police station in Batala, claimed via social media alongside Passia. His operations extends across several countries, with associates in Greece, the UK, and Pakistan, making him a significant target for Indian law enforcement agencies.

Satbir Singh alias Satnam, alias Satta

Satbir Singh Satta Satbir Singh Satta

A notorious gangster from Naushehra Pannuan in Tarn Taran district, Satta is accused of involvement in terrorist activities linked to the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). He is a key operative in a transnational criminal and terrorist network, allegedly controlled by Rinda and Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa.

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Satta is implicated in several high-profile crimes including the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on Sarhali police station in December 2022.

This month, Punjab Police busted two ISI-backed terror modules, allegedly controlled by Satta from abroad (possibly France) and Greece-based Jaswinder, alias Mannu Agwan. The recoveries included RPGs, grenades, and RDX. These modules planned attacks on police officials and stations.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has named Satta in its chargesheet for his role in BKI’s terrorist network, which spans Canada, the US, EU, UAE, Nepal, and Pakistan. He is accused of raising funds for the BKI through narcotics and weapons smuggling into Punjab and coordinating terror acts.

Satta’s operations rely on encrypted communication apps like WhatsApp and Zangi — the latter is banned in India. He employs the “dead drop” technique to evade detection. His criminal history includes a 2010 case involving IED and RDX recovery.

Gurjant Singh, alias Bholu

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A key figure in a global drug syndicate, Bholu belongs to Havelian village in Punjab’s Tarn Taran. He is reported to have ties with other prominent criminals, including Amritpal Singh alias Baath, and Shehnaz Singh, alias Shawn Bhinder, an international drug lord. Bhinder was arrested by Punjab Police on March 10 and was wanted by the FBI, DGP Gaurav Yadav had said.

Bholu’s activities primarily revolve around smuggling of heroin and other narcotics from Pakistan and Afghanistan into India, as well as facilitating the distribution of cocaine from Colombia to the US and Canada.

Bholu’s gang is also implicated in other criminal activities, including extortion and arms smuggling, contributing to the nexus of organized crime and drug trafficking in Punjab.

Rajesh Kumar alias Sonu Khatri

Rajesh Kumar alias Sonu Khatri Rajesh Kumar alias Sonu Khatri

A notorious gangster based in the United States, Khatri is originally from Rakra Dhahan village in Punjab’s Balachaur. He is a close associate of Rinda and operates a criminal network linked to murder, extortion, carjacking, and terrorist activities in Punjab. He is believed to orchestrate crimes from abroad, using social media apps and hawala transactions to coordinate with operatives in India, providing them with weapons, funds, and hideouts.

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In March 2022, his operatives were involved in the murder of Makhan Kang in Nawanshahr, with three key associates — Amandeep Kumar alias Rancho, Shivam alias Avtar, and Gurmukh Singh alias Gora — arrested in January 2023 from Thane, Maharashtra, in a joint operation by Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), central agencies, and Maharashtra ATS.

On June 29, 2024, Jalandhar Rural Police arrested five members of Khatri’s gang, linked to the Sorav Gujjar gang, for planning targeted killings in Hoshiarpur and Adampur.

Khatri’s operations reflect a nexus between organized crime and Khalistani terrorism, with plans to target rival gang members, such as those of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and execute sensational crimes in Punjab.

Gurdev Singh, alias Jaisal

Gurdev singh jaisal Gurdev Singh Jaisal

A US-based gangster, Jaisal is implicated in orchestrating a significant extortion racket targeting businessmen in Punjab. His operations came under scrutiny following a major crackdown by the Punjab Police in February this year, which exposed his network and led to the arrest of key operatives.

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On February 4, his associates opened fire at a petrol pump owned by a Kalanaur-based businessman to intimidate him. The Punjab Police arrested an Assistant Sub-Inspector Surjit Singh who was collecting and distributing extortion funds on Jassal’s behalf. ASI Surjit Singh, stationed at Batala, was dismissed from service under Article 311(2) of the Constitution. Investigations revealed that Surjit Singh’s two US-based sons were in close contact with Jaisal, facilitating the transfer of extorted funds in exchange for a share of the profits.

Jaisal was also implicated in a 2022 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the Sarhali police station in Tarn Taran. This attack was orchestrated by Pakistan’s ISI in coordination with a Canada-based terror module led by gangster Landa, with Jaisal and Satbir Singh Satta as key figures.

Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Bal

Linked to a range of criminal activities, including targeted killings, extortion, weapons smuggling, and terror conspiracies, often in collaboration with other gangsters and terrorist outfits, Amrit Bal belongs to village Nadala in Kapurthala district. He is closely associated with Landa and Rinda, operating under the influence of Pakistan’s ISI. He is also linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang and has ties with the proscribed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

Bal has been involved in orchestrating terror modules in Punjab, with his operatives planning attacks on police establishments, political and religious leaders, and civilians. Bal operates internationally, primarily from the US, using local operatives in Punjab to execute his plans. He assigns tasks like reconnaissance and weapon distribution to trusted aides to maintain secrecy.

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