Khalistan supporters attack Indian consulate in San Francisco

San Francisco attack follows attack on Indian mission in London by supporters of a separatist leader on the run

Continuing their spree of attacks on Indian missions abroad, separatist Khalistan supporters attacked the Indian consulate in San Francisco on Sunday demanding the release of a separatist leader on the run.

The attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco comes on the heels of an attack on the Indian High Commissions in London and a protest in Canberra by Khalistan supporters.

Read: Indian mission, diaspora condemn Connecticut assembly’s pro Khalistan stance (May 3, 2022)

In a video of the attack which has gone viral on the social media Khalistani elements can be seen damaging the property at the consulate while waving their Khalistan flags.

The separatists broke through makeshift security barriers installed by the local authorities, installed two Khalistani flags inside the consulate, and caused significant damage to the building. Two consulate personnel later removed the flags. San Francisco police have not commented on the incident.

In the video, one can also see the Khalistani flags being used to break the doors and windows of the consulate. The attackers also painted #FreeAmritpal graffiti on the walls of the building as well.

India has conveyed strong protest with the US over the incident and asked for appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

“The US Government was reminded of its basic obligation to protect and secure diplomatic representation. It was asked to take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents,” according to an official statement issued in New Delhi.

Prominent Indian Americans have demanded immediate action against those responsible for the attack on the consulate in San Francisco.

Read: Khalistani separatists deface Gandhi statue in Washington (December 14, 2020)

“We are also appalled by the complete law and order failure in both in London as well as in SFO where a few radicalised separatists attacked India’s diplomatic missions,” Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) said after the attack in San Francisco.

Community leader Ajay Bhutoria strongly condemned the attack by pro-Khalistan protesters on the Consulate of India building in San Francisco. “This act of violence is not only a threat to the diplomatic relations between the United States and India but also an attack on the peace and harmony of our community,” he said.

In a statement, Bhutoria urged local authorities to take immediate action against those responsible for this attack and bring them to justice. “I also call on all members of our community to unite and promote peace and harmony,” he said.

Meanwhile, Indian police have launched a massive manhunt for separatist leader Amritpal Singh, who has been declared an absconder. He was last seen speeding away on a motorcycle in Jalandhar Saturday evening. The cops seized his car in which firearms and several dozens of live cartridges were found, according to the police.

Dramatic scenes captured on video and broadcast on local television showed hundreds of Singh’s supporters, some holding swords and sticks, walking through the streets of Punjab. Police and paramilitary troops were deployed across several districts in the state in a bid to maintain law and order.

Read: The many Khalistani attacks on Indian embassies from UK to America (March 20, 2023)

Indian Police have arrested 112 associates of Amritpal Singh — 34 of them on Sunday. Several members of his ‘Waris Punjab De’ group have been detained for questioning. Among those arrested was Daljeet Singh Kalsi, the man who handles Amritpal Singh’s finances,

India’s External Affairs Ministry summoned British deputy high commissioner Christina Scott late Sunday evening after videos on social media showed a Khalistani sympathiser pulling down the national flag outside the Indian High Commission in London.

In Canberra, Khalistan supporters gathered outside Australian parliament to protest against the police crackdown on Amritpal Singh and his associates in Punjab, according to media reports.