Attack on Indian consulate: US taking steps to ensure safety of Indians
Attack on Indian consulate: Days after the arson attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco by pro-Khalistan supporters, top White House official Kurt Campbell on Thursday termed it as "deeply regrettable" and said the United States is taking steps to ensure Indian diplomatic community feels safe and secure in the country.
The United States National Security Council's coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs said, "First of all, let me say that these are deeply regrettable events. We take very seriously the safety and security of diplomats that are living in the United States. We have been in close contact with Indian authorities, with local law enforcement."
Also Read | Manipur violence: Mob sets fire to security personnel's house after fresh clash
Earlier the US state department spokesperson said that the US strongly condemned the vandalism and attempted arson by pro-Khalistan supporters in San Francisco.
Around 1:40 am (local time) on Sunday (July 2), a group of Khalistan radicals made an attempt to set the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on fire.
The Local San Francisco police department, special diplomatic security personnel, and state and federal authorities were notified and immediately began investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Dr TV Nagendra Prasad, Consul General, Consulate General of India, San Francisco, have been targeted in a poster purportedly circulated by Sikh extremists who have accused them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
This is not for the first time that the Francisco consulate has come under attack.
In March this year several protesters, raising pro-Khalistan slogans broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the SF city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel soon removed these flags. The US government condemned the violent incidents that took place during protests at Indian diplomatic facilities in the US, while also termed that violence, or the threat of violence is never an acceptable form of protest and is of "grave concern."
Also Read: Unmarried people now eligible for pension; know process, age bar, other details
Multiple incidents of protests by supporters of Khalistan have been staged outside the Indian embassy and the San Francisco Consulate, however, no action against any person or group has been taken as yet. The extremist Sikh group are also planning to rally outside the Indian missions in the US on July 8.
- ANI
