- विज्ञापन -
In the past year, the United States has become a critical front in the battle against Indian gangsters and criminals, with high-profile arrests exposing the alarming reach of transnational crime networks. From California’s San Joaquin County to broader American cities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement have targeted individuals linked to organized crime and terrorism, many originating from India’s Punjab region.
The arrests of figures like Anmol Bishnoi, Pavittar Singh Batala, Happy Passia, and others highlight a growing threat that spans continents. This op-ed examines the reasons behind the U.S.’s aggressive response, profiles the key players arrested, explores the implications for India and Punjab, and analyzes how overlooking these networks allowed them to become a problem for the U.S.
The Arrests: Unmasking a Transnational Threat
Between July 2024 and July 2025, U.S. authorities arrested at least 17 Indianorigin individuals involved in serious criminal activities, primarily in California. These operations targeted members of notorious groups like the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate and the proscribed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), revealing a dangerous nexus of organized crime and terrorism. Below are the key figures and their significance:
1 Anmol Bishnoi
Profile: The younger brother of jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Anmol is a central figure in the Bishnoi syndicate, accused of masterminding the murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique in October 2024. Hailing from a wealthy Punjab family, he expanded the gang’s operations internationally, leveraging encrypted communication for extortion and murder plots.
Arrest: November 2024, California, for traveling with forged documents.
Significance: Anmol’s detention disrupts the Bishnoi syndicate’s global network, which spans extortion, murder, and arms smuggling across India, Canada, and the U.S. His arrest has sparked extradition talks between the FBI and India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), underscoring strengthened bilateral cooperation against organized crime.
2 Pavittar Singh Batala
Profile: A fugitive linked to the banned BKI, Batala is wanted by the NIA for terror-related activities, including targeted killings and arms smuggling in Punjab. Allegedly operating under ISI-linked terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda, he coordinated pro-Khalistan activities using encrypted apps.
Arrest: July 11, 2025, San Joaquin County, California, during the FBI’s “Summer Heat” initiative targeting gang violence.
Significance: Batala’s arrest, accompanied by the seizure of five handguns (including a fully automatic Glock), an assault rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and $15,000 in cash, highlights the threat of Khalistani-linked gangs in the U.S. India is actively seeking his extradition, marking a blow to BKI’s international operations.
3 Happy Passia
Profile: A U.S.-based BKI operative, Passia is accused of orchestrating targeted killings, grenade attacks on police stations, and extortion in India between 2023 and 2025. A close associate of Rinda, he played a key role in the Khalistani terror network’s fundraising and operations.
Arrest: April 2025, Sacramento, California.
Significance: Passia’s detention weakens BKI’s ability to coordinate terror activities from abroad, offering India a chance to pursue extradition. His arrest reflects growing U.S. awareness of Khalistani operatives exploiting American soil as a safe haven.
4 Sahil
Profile: Originally from Rohtak, Haryana, Sahil is a close aide of gangster Himanshu Bhau, operating from the U.S. He faces charges of murder, at t e m p t e d m u rd e r, criminal conspiracy, and extortion, with an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued against him.
Arrest: May 2024, USA (location unspecified).
Significance: Sahil’s arrest targets the Bishnoi syndicate’s U.S.-based operations, particularly extortion rackets targeting Indian businesses. It signals the U.S.’s commitment to dismantling Indian criminal networks operating transnationally.
5 Seven Others in San Joaquin County
Profiles: On July 11, 2025, Dilpreet Singh, Arshpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Vishal (full name undisclosed), Gurtaj Singh, Manpreet Randhawa, and Sarabjit Singh were arrested alongside Batala in San Joaquin County. These Indian-origin men, linked to Punjab-based gangs, face charges of kidnapping, torture, extortion, witness intimidation, and firearms violations, including possession of a machine gun.
Significance: The group’s arrest exposed a sophisticated network targeting the Indian community in the U.S. The seizure of advanced weaponry and cash underscores their violent capabilities, with potential life sentences looming for all eight suspects.
Why the U.S. Acted: A Convergence of Threats
The U.S.’s crackdown is driven by three key factors. First, Indian gangsters have increasingly engaged in local crimes, such as the June 19, 2025, kidnapping and torture case in San Joaquin County, posing a direct threat to American communities. Second, diplomatic pressure from India, amplified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagements with U.S. officials, has prioritized action against fugitives like Batala and Anmol Bishnoi.
Third, the FBI’s “Summer Heat” initiative reflects a broader strategy to combat gang violence and illegal weapons trafficking, with Indian gangs emerging as a visible threat. The U.S. initially underestimated these networks, allowing figures like Batala and Anmol to operate discreetly using forged documents or student visas. This oversight enabled them to orchestrate crimes in India while establishing a foothold in the U.S., often within Indian diaspora communities.
The San Joaquin County case, where a victim was tortured for information related to the Indian community, exposed the violent spillover of these networks, forcing authorities to act decisively.
Impact on India and Punjab: A Glimmer of Hope These arrests have profound implications for India, particularly Punjab, where gang violence and Khalistani extremism have fueled insecurity. The detention of BKI operatives like Batala and Passia disrupts their ability to fund and coordinate terror activities, offering relief to Punjab’s law enforcement.
The Punjab Police have dismantled over 500 gangs since 2021, but the international reach of groups like BKI and the Bishnoi syndicate has posed challenges. These U.S. arrests strengthen India’s counterterrorism efforts and bolster extradition prospects, potentially bringing highprofile fugitives to justice. In Punjab, the arrests weaken the nexus of gangsters, drugs, and pop culture that glorifies crime. Figures like Lawrence Bishnoi, operating from jail, and his brother Anmol have fueled extortion and violence, often targeting Punjab’s entertainment industry. By shrinking international safe havens, these arrests may deter gang recruitment and reduce the allure of criminal lifestyles, offering Punjab a chance to break this cycle.
The Cost of Inaction: A Growing US Problem
The U.S.’s initial inaction allowed Indian criminal network stoembed themselves in American communities, particularly in California, where the Indian diaspora is significant. Gangsters like Batala and Passia exploited lax oversight to plan crimes in India while engaging in local violence, such as the San Joaquin County kidnapping.
The seizure of advanced weaponry, including a fully automatic Glock, signals their potential to escalate violence on U.S. soil. Moreover, their ties to terror groups like BKI and ISI-linked operatives pose a national security risk, aligning with broader concerns about transnational crime.
Social media discussions on X have amplified concerns about these networks, with users like @amanultimate96 highlighting their role in illegal weapons trafficking (July 14, 2025). The growing visibility of these gangs forced the FBI to prioritize action, as continued inaction risked further destabilization of community safety and strained U.S.-India relations.
Conclusion: A Call for Sustained Action
The arrests of Anmol Bishnoi, Pavittar Singh Batala, Happy Passia, Sahil, and others mark a pivotal moment in combating transnational Indian crime networks. For the U.S., they underscore the need for proactive intelligence-sharing and immigration oversight to prevent foreign criminals from exploiting American soil.
For India and Punjab, they offer hope of dismantling terror and gang networks that have long plagued the region. However, the challenge persists: without sustained international cooperation, new gangsters will emerge to fill the void. The U.S. and India must deepen their partnership, leveraging agencies like the FBI and NIA to ensure no safe haven exists for these criminals. Only through vigilance can both nations curb the global reach of these dangerous networks.
