The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated proclamation proceedings under Section 84 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) against US-based gangster-terrorist Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, Armenia-based Shamsher Singh alias Shera and seven others in connection with a grenade attack on a police station in Punjab, officials familiar with the development said.

Proclamation proceedings allow courts to compel absconding accused persons to appear after they evade arrest warrants. The move could help the NIA pursue further legal action, including property attachment and trial in absentia.

Passia is linked to the banned pro-Khalistani outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Intelligence officials in Delhi said he worked with Lawrence Bishnoi’s network through his deputy, Satwinder Singh alias Goldy Brar. He also allegedly collaborated with the rival gang of Davinder Bambiha and Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala.

Multiple agencies have documented close links between the Bishnoi gang and BKI in court documents and intelligence reports. In June 2025, the NIA filed a charge sheet against Brar over grenade attacks on Warehouse Club and Human Club in Gurugram’s Sector 29 on December 10, 2024. The agency linked the attacks to a wider BKI conspiracy to spread communal disharmony and disrupt peace in Haryana and neighbouring regions.

Passia, wanted in more than 33 cases by the NIA and Haryana and Punjab police, was arrested by US authorities on April 16 last year. He is reportedly in a US prison, but the NIA continues to treat him as an absconder until his return to India. Indian agencies have received no formal communication about his current status.

The proceedings against the nine accused come amid renewed attention on the nexus between north India-based gangsters and terrorists following attacks targeting celebrities, including Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff. Officials said, “BKI and gangsters worked together”.

“Also, proclamation proceedings will help NIA take further legal recourse like invoke provisions related to attachment of properties and trial in absentia,” an officer said, requesting anonymity.

The case relates to the April 2025 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the Qila Lal Singh police station in Gurdaspur district’s Batala area.

The other seven accused are Jaswinder Singh alias Baagi, Maninder Singh alias Billa, Malwinder Singh alias Sukh, Abhay Pratap Singh alias Raju, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Navasherian, Karan Singh alias Abhi and Akash Singh. A second officer said they “are hiding in the US, Armenia and Malaysia”.

“These terrorists-gangsters procured weapons, ammunition and explosives to target the Qila Lal Singh police station, besides several other police stations in Punjab and Haryana and are wanted in many other similar incidents,” the second officer said.

The NIA filed a charge sheet in the case in October last year, naming 11 arrested accused. It alleged that foreign-based BKI operatives orchestrated the attack with support from associates in India. The agency also claimed that overseas handlers exploited personal vulnerabilities and used social media to radicalise and recruit young people in Punjab.