New Delhi: A group of Khalistani supporters attacked the Indian consulate in San Francisco city of United States and also held the consulate officials to ransom for sometime before leaving the premises.
The incident comes just hours of similar Khalistani sympathizers assembling outside the Indian consulate in London and pulling down the Indian flag, prompting strong condemnation from the Indian diaspora.
A video of Khalistani sympathizers creating havoc outside the San Francisco also surfaced on the social media, in which they could be seen raising pro-Khalistan slogans and demanding the release of Amritpal Singh.
They also planted a graffiti on the wall of building with #FreeAmritpal written on it.
In the video, they could be seen breaking through the makeshift security barriers, putting their Khalistani flag inside the consulate and then vandalizing the premises when resisted.
Unacceptable
Khalistani miscreants attacked the Indian consulate in San Francisco after Indian officials removed
Khalistani flags from consulate building @POTUS @VP @SecBlinken ,it’s shocking that no action taken by your Govt till now@SFPD Are you sleeping ??@IndianEmbassyUS pic.twitter.com/p5Wdu2LRdg— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) March 20, 2023
The consulate officials removed the Khalistani flag and are also understood to have lodged online complaint. It’s then the group of angry demonstrators broke the barrier and started damaging the doors & windows with wooden rods & swords in their hands.
San Francisco police was yet to make a statement on this but the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) condemned the action in strongest terms.
Denouncing the assault on Indian consulate in San Franscico, it said that such acts won’t just put India-US relations in peril but vitiated the peaceful atmosphere & harmony of the community.
It said that both US & UK failed to honour the commitment under Vienna convention to protect missions in all circumstances.
It said that Pakistan’s ISI was behind the instigation & funding of Sikh radicalization to push through a fake propaganda and misguide the community. It also urged the Sikh community to rise against the extremism & radicalism and come forward to show that they don’t represent the voices of community.
