Gangster Passia behind 14 attacks in Punjab detained in US

Over the last seven months, 16 grenade attacks have been reported in Punjab, targeting police posts, religious sites, and residences of public figures, including BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia. Passia’s name has cropped up during investigations into at least 14 such attacks.

A source said they have received information from their counterparts and are now sharing details of all the cases in which Passia was allegedly directly involved.

“The NIA has filed an application in the Chandigarh District Court seeking an arrest warrant against Passia in connection with the hand grenade attack on a house in Sector 10, Chandigarh on September 11 last year,” the source said.

Investigtions into the Sector 10 attack revealed that Passia allegedly orchestrated it while allegedly working for Rinda. “The grenade attack, which targeted former Jalandhar SP Jaskirat Singh Chahal and his family, was carried out by two persons — Rohan and Vishal Masih — who escaped after hurling the grenade. Passia later claimed responsibility for the attack on social media,” an officer said.

Last year, after questioning a number of associates of Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias Landa, a Canada-based Khalistani terrorist, and Rinda, the NIA had found that both the terrorists have stopped working together and Rinda has started working with one Passia. Their new syndicate was allegedly raising terror modules and carrying out terror activities in Punjab, a senior official said.

In 2023, Passia formed an association with Rinda to raise terror modules in Punjab. “He illegally entered the US in 2021 with the help of an illegal human trafficking network,” the official said.

Notably, Rinda is also said to be connected to the Sidhu Moosewala murder case in 2022. The Delhi police had registered a case naming two Punjab gangs. The probe was later taken over by the NIA, which is probing into the alleged nexus between Punjab gangs and terror networks.