San Francisco: The Indian Consulate in San Francisco came under attack allegedly perpetrated by miscreants associated with the Khalistani movement during the early hours of Sunday.
Reports suggest that members of Sikhs for Justice, a designated terrorist organization, set fire to the premises between 1:30 and 2:30 am. Fortunately, no staff members sustained injuries in the blaze, which was subsequently extinguished by firefighting teams.
The hate crime prompted a strong condemnation from the US State Department. Spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed disapproval on Twitter, stating, “The US strongly condemns the reported vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.” Miller added, “Vandalism or violence against diplomatic facilities or foreign diplomats in the US is a criminal offense.”
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
This incident took place months after the consulate faced targeting by pro-Khalistani groups, who raised slogans against India and vandalized the property. The Indian government and the Indian diaspora in San Francisco expressed widespread condemnation in response to these actions.
The recent arson attempt is believed to be connected to the recent killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a deceased Khalistani terrorist in Canada. Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) later claimed responsibility and released a video displaying the consulate being set on fire. SFJ, designated as a terrorist group by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs in July 2019 due to its disruptive and extremist activities in Punjab, is considered responsible for the attack.
Although the Khalistani propaganda has suffered a significant setback following the deaths of three terrorists—Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan, and Avtar Singh Khanda—the threat and presence of the group remain evident worldwide.