Khalistan supporters try to incite violence at Indian Embassy in Washington; Secret Service, police foil their bid

A bunch of Khalistan supporters gathered in entrance of the Indian Embassy right here and plenty of of their audio system tried to incite violence, however well timed intervention by an alert US Secret Service and native police prevented a repeat of London and San Francisco incidents of vandalism on the mission.

Separatist Sikhs, who gathered outdoors the Indian Embassy in downtown Washington DC on Saturday, heralded abusive language and brazenly threatened Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The Ambassador was not within the embassy on the time of the protest.

A few of the audio system had been seen inciting fellow protestors to bask in violence and break the home windows and glasses of the constructing throughout the highway.

Of their speeches, many of the protestors had been seen attempting to incite violence not solely in India however right here as properly, together with bodily injury to the Indian Embassy property.

Learn | Professional-Khalistani protesters assault Indian Consulate in San Francisco

Sensing that issues would possibly go uncontrolled, the Secret Service and the native police shortly introduced in reinforcement and extra forces had been deployed and not less than three police vans had been positioned in entrance of the Embassy.

At one level of time, 5 protesters shortly crossed the highway and had been about to interrupt into the non permanent marker of the embassy property close to the pole unfurling the tricolour earlier than they had been requested to go away.

Secret Service personnel, who had been carefully watching this, very quickly rushed to the spot and requested the protesters to return to the designated protest space, earlier than any untoward incident may occur.

It appeared that the protesters had come ready to do one thing comparable like damaging Indian properties on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and the Indian Excessive Fee in London.

After the assault on the Indian consulate in San Francisco by pro-Khalistan protesters final Sunday, India had registered its “robust protest” with the US Cost d’Affaires in New Delhi over the incident and requested the American authorities to take acceptable measures to stop the recurrence of such incidents.

Throughout protest by Khalistan supporters on the Indian Embassy in Washington, the PTI reporter noticed separatists bringing two bundles of wood sticks that had been saved within the park that has the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in entrance of the embassy.

The wood sticks had been just like these which had been used to interrupt the door and home windows and smash the glasses of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Whereas one bundle was used to show the separatist flag, the opposite bundle of about 20 sticks was saved apart.

Organisers of the protest had a really hostile method in direction of the Indian reporter masking the protest.

They not solely obstructed this reporter by coming in entrance of the digicam and inserting the Khalistan flag on his face, saved pushing him, but in addition threatened dire penalties.

The reporter, apprehending bodily hurt, known as 911 and ran in direction of the opposite aspect of the highway for security, on the lookout for a police van.

One of many protesters abused the reporter and was asking questions like it’s a must to inform me what are you going to report?

The organiser backed off because the reporter complained to the police concerning the doubtlessly dangerous actions of the protesters.

Learn | Indian-People rally in assist of India at San Francisco consulate after Khalistani assault

Someday later, two of the protesters got here in direction of the reporters, who had been standing close to the Secret Service personnel. One in every of them instructed the Secret Service that the reporter be requested to go away “my land” which is federal property.

They warned that if there may be any violence and the reporter is bodily harmed, they shouldn’t be blamed for this. Instantly the opposite protestor heralded abuse in opposition to the reporter, used unparliamentary phrases, and moved the 2 Khalistan flags that he had in his hand in such a means that its sticks hit the reporter’s left ear with a bang.

The Secret Service personnel requested the reporter if he was okay. The Secret Service warned the protester that this shouldn’t be repeated, and sought further reinforcement from police personnel.

The legislation enforcement official instructed the protestors that this was public land, and the reporter was all inside his proper to face there and canopy their protest.

Of their speeches, the protesters repeatedly pointing fingers in direction of the 2 reporters and used abusive phrases in opposition to them.

Whereas they prevented the journalists from doing their work, a gaggle of protesters filmed the reporter masking their protest, took footage and requested provocative questions.

The separatists left the realm round after 3 pm and considered one of them was seen maintaining the bundle of wood sticks within the trunk of the SUV.

The Indian Embassy right here condemned the assault on the PTI reporter.

“Now we have seen disturbing visuals of a senior Indian journalist from the Press Belief of India being abused, threatened & assaulted bodily whereas masking the so-called ‘Khalistan protest’ in Washington DC earlier at this time,” the Indian mission mentioned in a press release.

“We perceive that the journalist was first verbally intimidated, then bodily assaulted, and fearing for his private security and well-being, needed to name in legislation enforcement companies, who responded promptly,” the assertion mentioned.

The mission mentioned it condemns such a grave and unwarranted assault on a senior journalist.

“Such actions solely underscore the violent and anti-social tendencies of the so-called ‘Khalistani protestors’ and their supporters, who routinely interact in wanton violence and vandalism,” it mentioned.

It thanked the legislation enforcement companies for his or her immediate response within the matter.

“This violence in opposition to @lalitkjha is outrageous and an assault on journalism. I condemn it within the strongest phrases. Lalit is among the fairest and most considerate journalists. Thanks to our safety for shielding Lalit and the diplomats and consulate,” Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna tweeted.