Ritu Jha–
“It was just shocking,” Dr T.V. Nagendra Prasad, consul general of India, San Francisco told indica about an attack at the consulate general office at 1:30 am on July 2.
Condemning the attack Consul General Prasad said there was no major damage, but pro-Khalistani group managed to set fire to the doormat.
“According to our security camera footage, there were only two people,” Dr Nagendra Prasad said. “They came and set fire. They were cowards.”
This is the second time in six months that the Consulate General of San Francisco has been attacked by pro-Khalistani groups. “Such act of violence… it’s unacceptable,” the consul general said. “They released a poster that they were planning for a march on July 8 and suddenly this happened.”
The July 8 march poster carries photos of Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Dr TV Nagendra Prasad, accusing them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
“They always protest. Not just the local government, even the US State Department recognizes it as a criminal offense. Action will be taken, and perpetrators will be booked and that is the only way to prevent such incidents in the future.”
California has been one of the target states for anti-India activities. In 2021, a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Davis, California was vandalized. On March 19 this year, pro-Khalistani groups attacked the consulate building and its staff, and placed two flags purported to represent Khalistan.
The Consul general said no arrest has been made and the investigation is ongoing. “They (the authorities) are cooperating and they have to find the people. Today I had several rounds of meetings, they [San Francisco Police] have assured strict action in this regard. They have taken this seriously because this is an arson incident… is it not less than an act or terror,” he said.
On March 19, a large pro-Khalistani group protested outside the San Francisco consulate general building, and managed to shatter glass windows and attack consulate employees, some of whom sustained injuries. The local police was called to quell the demonstration.
When indica asked the consul general whether he saw any familiar face in the security footage, he said, “We were unable to see the faces. They delayed their Twitter post this time around. Usually they are quick. The San Francisco police are investigating who tweeted the attack.”
He sounded relieved that not much damage was done, and that the staff who stayed at the consulate office at night were safe. “Following the March 19 incident, we had an iron safety grill installed, so they were not able to get inside. They also vandalized the place with graffiti, and we have provided all the security footage to the police.”
