A PTI journalist was verbally intimidated and bodily assaulted by Khalistan supporters protesting exterior the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, drawing a powerful response from the Indian mission which stated such actions underscore the violent and anti-social tendencies of those separatists.
IMAGE: A Khalistan supporter assaults an Indian journalist overlaying their protest exterior the Indian embassy in Washington, DC. {Photograph}: Screengrab from a video posted by @lalitkjha on Twitter
The US correspondent of the Press Belief of India, Lalit Okay Jha, was overlaying the pro-Khalistan protest when he got here below assault.
However the well timed intervention by the US Secret Service and the native police saved him.
‘We’ve seen disturbing visuals of a senior Indian journalist from the Press Belief of India being abused, threatened & assaulted bodily whereas overlaying the so-called Khalistan protest’ in Washington DC earlier immediately,’ the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC stated 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 regulation enforcement businesses, who responded promptly,’ the assertion stated.
‘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 stated.
The Indian mission thanked the regulation enforcement businesses for his or her immediate response within the matter.
The protesters not solely obstructed this PTI reporter by coming in entrance of the digital camera and inserting the Khalistan flag on his face and stored pushing him, but additionally threatened dire penalties.
The reporter, apprehending bodily hurt, known as 911 and ran in direction of the opposite aspect of the highway for security, in search of a police van.
One of many protesters abused the reporter and was asking questions like it’s important to inform me what are you going to report?
The organiser backed off because the reporter complained to the police in regards to the probably dangerous actions of the protesters.
Someday later, two of the protesters got here in direction of the reporters, who have 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’s any violence and the reporter is bodily harmed, they shouldn’t be blamed for this.
Instantly the opposite protestor hurled abuses in opposition to the reporter, used unparliamentary phrases, and moved the 2 Khalistan flags that he had in his hand in such a approach 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 extra reinforcement from police personnel.
The regulation 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 pointed 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 bunch of protesters filmed the reporter overlaying their protest, took photos and requested provocative questions.
‘This violence in opposition to @lalitkjha is outrageous and an assault on journalism. I condemn it within the strongest phrases. Lalit is likely one of the fairest and most considerate journalists. Thanks to our safety for safeguarding Lalit and the diplomats and consulate,’ Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna tweeted.
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