US condemns ‘reported vandalism and attempted arson’ against Indian Consulate in San Francisco
In the second such attack in five months, Khalistan supporters set ablaze the Indian Consulate in San Francisco during the early hours of Sunday, specifically between 1:30 and 2:30 am. The flames were put down swiftly by the San Francisco Fire Department.
So far, there have been no reports of any major damage to the building or injury to the staffers. Local, state and federal authorities were notified about the incident. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US Department of State, took to Twitter to condemn the act.
Is Death Of Hardeep Singh Nijjar Involved?
The US strongly reacts over the “reported vandalism and attempted arson,” the tweet read, adding violence against foreign diplomats or diplomatic facilities in the US is a major criminal offence. Meanwhile, Khalistan supporters have also released a video.
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The separatists dropped a video connecting the incident with the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. And the way the video was captured setting up a camera outside the consulate in San Francisco establishes the fact that the group wants to send out a message.
NIA Opens Investigation, Team Could Reach US Soon
Since the killing, there have been several protests in the US and Canada against India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has opened a probe into the attacks on Indian missions in the two countries, which are suspected to have connections to the separatists.
Investigators from the agency are expected to depart from India in the near future to collect statements and evidence related to the case. Sources within the NIA believe the team could be departing within the coming week. But an official statement is still awaited.
The previous attack on the consulate was in March. Videos released at the time showed Khalistan supporters breaking the doors and barging into the office. The attackers also painted graffiti on the wall of the building with the words #FREEAmritpal.
