After July 2 Arson Attack On SF Consulate, Khalistanis Plan Rally

India-West News Desk

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – After fire crews were called about 2 a.m. on July 2 to the Consulate General of India here, where they found a fire had damaged the front door and entryway, White House official Kurt Campbell on July 6 termed it as “deeply regrettable” and said the United States is taking steps to ensure Indian diplomatic community feels safe and secure in the country.

Campbell’s comments by pro-Khalistan supporters are the latest in a series of condemnations of the arson attack on the consulate by US officials. The Deputy Assistant to the President and the National Security Council’s coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs said, “First of all, let me say that these are deeply regrettable events. We take very seriously the safety and security of diplomats that are living in the United States. We have been in close contact with Indian authorities, with local law enforcement. We are trying to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Indian diplomatic community feels safe and secure here. And we’ll continue with that work going forward,” Campbell said.

A video of the incident was verified by sources who said the two fires was suppressed quickly by the San Francisco Fire Department. Officials said a roll of paper towels, was set ablaze on the sidewalk outside the Consulate and the second fire was outside the Consulate door.

The San Francisco police department, special diplomatic security personnel, and state and federal authorities were notified and immediately began investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Dr TV Nagendra Prasad, Consul General, Consulate General of India, San Francisco, have been targeted in a “Khalistan Freedom Rally,” poster purportedly circulated by Sikh extremists who have accused them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

A protest by Khalistanis has been scheduled for July 8 which will start in Berkeley, California, and end at the San Francisco Indian Consulate.

This is not the first time that the San Francisco consulate has come under attack.

In March this year several protesters, raising pro-Khalistan slogans broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the SF city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises. Two consulate personnel then removed these flags.