‘Strongly Condemn’: US Reacts After Khalistan Supporters Set AFire Indian Consulate in San Francisco | On Cam – News18
Edited By: Abhro Banerjee
Last Updated: July 04, 2023, 08:08 IST
San Francisco, California, USA
Diya TV, a local channel, reported that Khalistanis radicals set the Indian consulate on fire between 1:30 am and 2:30 am on Sunday. (Photo: Screen grab from video of Diya TV circulating on Twitter)
This is the second attack on the consulate by Khalistani supporters in a span of five months. The first attack was in March.
The Indian consulate in San Francisco was subjected to arson during the early hours of Sunday morning, specifically between 1:30 and 2:30 am. This is the second attack on the consulate by Khalistan supporters in a span of five months. The first attack was in March.
The fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Fire Department. No major damages or staffers were harmed. Local, state and federal authorities were notified. The US Department of State has strongly condemned the act of violence.
“The U.S. strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the U.S. is a criminal offense,” Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department tweeted.
The U.S. strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on Saturday. Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the U.S. is a criminal offense.— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) July 3, 2023
Khalistani Groups have released a video linking the attack with the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the way video was shot setting up a camera outside consulate establishes that separatist groups want to send out a message.
Since the killing of Hardeep Singh Jijjar, Khalistan Groups have been atgtempting to link the killing as a work of Indian intelligence. In fact, there have been several protests in Canada and US against India.
Khalistan supporters had in March allegedly attacked Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Following the incident, India had lodged a strong protest with US Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi. Videos had emerged on social media of Khalistani supporters, breaking the doors and barging into the office while loud Punjabi music played in the background.
The supporters also painted graffiti with the words #FREEAmritpal on the wall of the building.
The videos showed men smashing the glass on doors and windows of the consulate building with the wooden butt of the Khalistan flags they were earlier seen waving.
In another attack, the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was pulled down by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans.
Images of shattered windows and men climbing the India House building were circulating on social media and videos from the scene show an Indian official grabbing the flag from a protester through the first-floor window of the mission, while the protester is seen waving a Khalistan flag hanging off its ledge.
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