New Delhi: Indian journalist Lalit Jha, based in Washington, was physically attacked and verbally abused by Khalistani supporters during a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Indian Embassy on Saturday.
A video shared by ANI, sourced from the Indian journalist Lalit Jha, also showed the Khalistani supporters abusing the Indian government and PM Narendra Modi.
The video contains abusive language, viewers discretion is advised.
#WATCH | #Khalistanis physically and verbally assaulted journalist Lalit K Jha outside Indian Embassy in #WashingtonDC
(Video Source – Lalit K Jha)
(Note – Abusive language used) pic.twitter.com/Dj6pCo48Ou
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) March 26, 2023
Jha on Sunday thanked the US Secret Service for protecting him and helping him do his job, stating that he was hit on his left ear with two sticks by the Khalistani supporters.
Thank you @SecretService 4 my protection 2day 4 helping do my job, otherwise I would have been writing this from hospital. The gentleman below hit my left ear with these 2 sticks & earlier I had to call 9/11 & rushed 2 police van 4 safety fearing physical assault👇. pic.twitter.com/IVcCeP5BPG
— Lalit K Jha ललित के झा (@lalitkjha) March 25, 2023
“Thank you @SecretService 4 my protection 2day 4 helping do my job, otherwise I would have been writing this from hospital. The gentleman below hit my left ear with these 2 sticks & earlier I had to call 9/11 & rushed 2 police van 4 safety fearing physical assault,” Jha tweeted on Sunday.
“At one point I felt so threatened that I called 911. I then spotted Secret Service officers and narrated the incident to them,” Jha told ANI, adding that the protesters took charge of the situation.
After the incident came to light, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC condemned the ‘grave’ and ‘unwarranted’ attack on the senior journalist, adding that such activities underscore the violence and anti-social tendencies of the so-called ‘Khalistani protesters’ and their supporters, who routinely engage in wanton violence and vandalism.
We understand that the journalist was first verbally intimidated, then physically assaulted, and fearing for his personal safety and well-being, had to call in law enforcement agencies, who responded promptly: @IndianEmbassyUS
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— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) March 26, 2023
However, the journalist decided to take no action against those who heckled him.
The incident comes amid recent vandalism of Indian missions in San Francisco and London. A group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco last Sunday. The protesters were shouting pro-Khalistan slogans and broke through security barriers to install two Khalistani banners inside the Consulate premises.