In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing fight against terrorism, guided by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Police successfully apprehended Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy Passia. He is a USA-based key operative of the Pakistan-ISI supported Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and a close associate of the Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda, in Sacramento, USA.

Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, hailed this event as a major triumph, stating, “This day marks a pivotal point in our continuous efforts to combat ISI-backed terror networks, as we announce the detention of Happy Passia by U.S. authorities.”

He attributed this success to the exemplary international collaboration and information sharing between the United States and India, pointing out that the Punjab Police have diligently provided intelligence inputs to central agencies.

According to reports, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Happy Passia in Sacramento, California, on April 17, 2025. DGP Yadav noted that Passia, originally from Passia village in Amritsar, began his criminal activities alongside gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and his USA-based associates Darman Kahlon and Amrit Bal.

Subsequently, Passia became a pivotal figure for Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda, operating under direct instructions from the ISI. DGP Yadav revealed that Passia served as the primary coordinator for ISI-backed terror modules in Punjab, playing a crucial role in orchestrating targeted killings, grenade assaults on police facilities, and running extortion rackets throughout the state from 2023 to 2025.

“Our investigation has uncovered Passia’s direct involvement in the majority of terror incidents that occurred in the state after September 2024,” stated the DGP. He emphasized that Passia was orchestrating these terror activities from the U.S. by exploiting vulnerable youth dealing with addiction, recruiting them for these acts in exchange for money and drugs.

The Punjab Police have been meticulously monitoring all terror modules established by Happy Passia and have successfully dismantled them, added DGP Gaurav Yadav. An extensive dossier detailing Passia’s activities was compiled and shared with central agencies and then forwarded to U.S. authorities, which ultimately led to his arrest.

“Punjab Police have already initiated discussions with Central Agencies to begin the process for Passia’s extradition to India in accordance with the law,” he stated.

Emphasizing that crime does not pay, DGP Gaurav Yadav declared that any criminal engaging in such activities will eventually have to face justice. He reassured that the Punjab Police remain dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of the state.

Public and private sector mining leaders convened for a two-day national seminar titled “Safety Challenges in Bulk Material Handling Equipment of Mining (Coal and Non-coal)” to assess current issues and explore solutions for the mining industry.

Held on April 16 and 17, the seminar featured presentations of 30 technical papers from various experts in the mining field. Ujjwal Tan, Director General of Mines Safety, chaired the event, which was attended by prominent government officials and executives from noted mining firms including Tata Steel and JSW.

Key participants included D Bageshwar Naik, Deputy Director General (Mechanical) as Chairman; Shri Ajay Singh, Deputy Director General (Electrical); R.T. Mandekar, Deputy Director General, Northwest Zone, as Co-convener; P.M. Prasad, CMD of Coal India Limited; Amitava Mukherjee, CMD of NMDC; Uday A. Kaole, CMD of MCL; and N. Balram, CMD of SCCL. Additional dignitaries included Vinay Kumar, Director (Technical) of NMDC; S.K. Sinha, Director (Operations) of HCL; Nirbhay Sancheti, Director (SMS); R.A. Meena, DDG (West Zone); Suprio Chakraborty, DDG (East Zone); and Neeraj Kumar, DDG (North Zone). The seminar was presided over by SSatyanarayana, Director of SCCL.

The event included officials from mining companies like CIL, NMDC, SCCL, HZL, HCL, MCL, Tata Steel, and JSW, alongside faculty from leading mining institutions, experts from global mining safety organizations, research institutes, and equipment manufacturers.

In total, 30 technical papers were presented, and 58 papers were published in the seminar’s souvenir to better understand and analyze safety challenges in bulk material handling within the mining sector. Discussions centered on strategies to mitigate risks associated with these challenges.

The seminar established a framework for safety standards and reinforced the enforcement of legal provisions aimed at enhancing the safety and health of workers in the mining industry. It concluded with a valedictory ceremony honoring the participants.

The student wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, led by Raj Thackeray, organized a protest in Navi Mumbai against the state government’s decision to make Hindi compulsory for schoolchildren starting from the first standard. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Vashi, waving banners and placards, while they burned copies of the government resolution, all the while chanting slogans against the administration. They accused the government of imposing a language in a region known for its diverse linguistic heritage.

Speaking to the media on Friday, representatives from the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) asserted that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 does not include any mandate for making Hindi a compulsory subject.

“This is an unwarranted imposition. The NEP 2020 does not specify Hindi as a mandatory subject,” stated one student leader, drawing comparisons to Tamil Nadu’s strong opposition to the imposition of Hindi and calling for a united protest from political parties across Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, Prof. Narendra Phatak, executive president of Sahitya Bharati and a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, criticized the Mahayuti government’s decision as unjust and burdensome for students. He noted that the government’s interpretation misrepresents the NEP 2020 and undermines the principles established by the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).
“This unilateral decision will only incite resistance against Hindi, which has not been a contentious issue in Maharashtra. Regrettably, such policies allow certain groups to politicize the matter and provoke protests,” remarked Prof. Phatak.