The Indian Consulate in San Francisco is attacked by Khalistan’s supporters

New Delhi:

Shortly after Khalistan supporters pulled down the national flag at the Indian High Commission building in London, videos were seen of a massive mob attacking the Indian consulate in US San Francisco while loud Punjabi music blared in the background. They also spray painted huge graffiti reading “Free Amritpal” on the outside wall of the building.

Several videos, filmed by the attackers themselves, showed men breaking the glass of the doors and windows of the consulate building with the wooden snag of Khalistan flags that they were seen earlier waving.

Three men, presumably employees of the Indian consulate, were seen raising Khalistan flags which were placed in the building near the entrance when a barricade was suddenly breached by the mob behind which they had earlier chanted slogans. Two men with flags then rushed into the consulate, pursued by several demonstrators with flags in their hands. Unable to enter the building before the door was closed in their faces, they could be seen slamming doors and windows with wooden flag sticks and bars. One of the men was seen smashing windows with a sword.

In Canberra, Khalistan supporters gathered outside the Australian parliament to protest the police crackdown on Amritpal Singh and his associates in Punjab.

Earlier today, a huge triptych was erected at the Indian High Commission building in London in response to the action by Khalistan’s supporters.

An image of the huge national flag stretched across India House in London’s Aldwych went viral, with social media users applauding the move. Many praised the bold action of a High Commission official who was seen raising the flag of Khalistan.

British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs late Sunday evening after videos of the Indian flag-drawing began circulating online. It demanded the arrest and trial of Khalistan loyalists involved in the removal of the national flag.

The ministry also demanded an explanation for the “lack of security” at the High Commission and said the UK government’s “indifference” towards Indian diplomats and staff was “unacceptable”.

British officials denounced the vandalism as “disgraceful” and “totally unacceptable”. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted, “I condemn the violent disorder and vandalism that occurred at the Indian High Commission today. There is no place in our city for this kind of behaviour. An investigation has been launched by the Met into today’s events.”