External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who recently attended the swearing-in ceremony of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the USA, expressed concern over the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco, USA. Jaishankar condemned the attack that happened on the Indian consulate in San Francisco in March 2023 terming it ‘a serious matter’.
#WATCH | Washington DC | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "…The attack on our consulate in San Francisco is a very serious matter and it is something for which we expect accountability. We would like to see that people who did it are held responsible." pic.twitter.com/qmsV3b7Nu4
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025
“…the arson attack on our consulate in San Francisco is a very very serious matter and it is something for which we expect accountability. We would like to see that people who did it are held responsible, ” he said in response to a question asked in a press meeting on Wednesday that he attended after meeting with the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubino.
Khalistanis attacked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco faced a string of attacks on March 19, 2023. Early in the morning, some attackers attempted to set the Consulate building on fire by sprinkling inflammable substances. Later that day, some pro-Khalistani entities trespassed into the consulate and tried to burn down the Consulate. A video of the attack went viral on social media in which one can 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. Subsequently, on the intervening night of July 1 and 2, some accused persons trespassed into the consulate and attempted to set the consulate on fire while consulate officials were inside the building.
The NIA released pictures of the accused persons
In September 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) released the photographs of 10 wanted accused in connection with the March 2023 attack seeking information about the accused persons from the general public. The NIA registered a case under sections 109, 120-B, 147, 148, 149, 323 436, 448 and 452 of the Indian Penal Code, section 13 of the UA (P) Act and section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. A team of the NIA visited San Francisco in August 2023 for the investigation of the attack.
Indian Tricolour pulled down from Indian High Commission in London
The attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco was preceded by an incident of removal of the Indian tricolour from the Indian High Commission in London by a Khalistani protestor. On the evening of March 19, 2023, a mob of pro-Khalistani protestors staged protests outside the Indian High Commission chanting ‘Khalistan Zindabad’. From among the protestors, one man scaled up the walls of the building and pulled down the Indian flag.
The Indian intelligence agencies claimed that the attack on the Indian High Commission was masterminded by Khalistani terrorists Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Avtar Khanda. Nijjar was shot dead in Surrey, Canada on June 18 (local time) four days after Avtar Khanda mysteriously died in a UK Hospital.
Khalistanis attacked the Indian Consulate in Australia
On February 21, 2023, some Khalistanis attacked the Indian Consulate in Brisbane, Australia and hoisted the Khalistani flag on its building. On January 29, Khalistanis attacked with swords several Indian Australians carrying the Indian tricolour. Notably, the Khalistani terrorist outfit ‘Sikhs For Justice’, which has been banned by the Indian government, had announced that a referendum on Khalistan will take place on January 29 at Federation Square.
Khalistanis attacked a Hindu temple in Canada
On November 3, 2024, Khalistani elements attacked and created mayhem at the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton, Canada while a consular camp organised by the Indian High Commission in Ottawa was in progress. Khalistani elements raising anti-India slogans and threatening to attack and kill Indian government officials created chaos at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton. A group of Khalistanis raising hateful slogans against India, the Indian government, and Indian nationals had started assaulting pro-India locals at the gate of the premises.
Over the past couple of years, Hindu temples and institutions associated with the government of India have witnessed a string of attacks mostly by Khalistani elements across the world including in Canada, the UK, Australia, and the US.