US: Security beefed up outside Indian embassy amid call for protests by pro-Khalistan group
Pro-Khalistan supporters attempt to set fire to Indian consulate in San Francisco, no major damage or injuries reported.
Due to the protest called out by the Khalistan supporters, security outside the Indian Embassy beefed up. A large number of police personnel were deployed outside the premises of the Indian embassy, a video posted by news agency ANI showed.
This came after Pro-Khalistan groups had planned to stage protests outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC amid a scheduled Independence Day celebration. A small group had gathered at the Indian Embassy on Tuesday morning, but they were outnumbered by the presence of a large number of security personnel including those from the US Park Police, US Secret Service and Washington DC Police.
The Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit, Singh Sandhu, hoisted the national flag at India House, his official residence. A large number of Indian Americans attended the ceremony.
This is not the first time the Khalistan supporters have targeted the Indian missions. In the past, many incidents have been reported from US, UK, Australia as well as Canada.
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Earlier, in July, a group of pro-Khalistan supporters allegedly attempted to set fire to the Indian consulate in San Francisco. There was no major damage nor any injuries and police are continuing their investigation into the incident.
A video of the incident was verified by sources who told ANI that the fire was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Fire Department. Terming the attack as nothing less than a "terror act" an official had told ANI that no major damages or staffers were harmed. The Local San Francisco police department, special diplomatic security personnel, and state and federal authorities were notified and immediately began investigating the incident.
Earlier in March this year, Khalistani supporters vandalized the consulate. The extremist elements broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the SF city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises.
(With inputs from ANI)