World News | India condemns pro-Khalistan attacks on Indian journalists in Washington

Washington DC [US]March 26 (ANI): After an Indian journalist based in Washington DC was attacked by supporters of Khalistan, the Indian embassy in the US condemned the incident in a statement on Saturday.

“We condemn this serious and unprovoked attack on a senior journalist. Such activities only highlight the violent and anti-social tendencies of the so-called ‘Khalistani protesters’ and their supporters, who often engage in wanton violence and vandalism ,” said a statement from the Indian embassy.

Read also | United States: Pro-Khalistani supporters attack and insult Indian journalist Lalit Jha in Washington DC outside the embassy in Washington DC (watch video).

Lalit Jha, an Indian journalist based in Washington, D.C., was physically attacked and abused by pro-Khalistan supporters while covering a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Indian embassy on Saturday afternoon.

The Indian embassy in the US said in a release: “Earlier today we saw that a senior Indian journalist from the Press Trust of India was abused, threatened And personal attacks, it’s disturbing,” before Saturday.

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“We understand that the reporter was first verbally intimidated, then physically attacked, and fears for his safety and well-being prompted calls to law enforcement, who responded promptly,” the statement said.

In a statement, the Indian embassy also thanked law enforcement for their swift response to the matter.

Jha thanked the U.S. Secret Service on Sunday for protecting him and helping him do his job. He said he was hit in the left ear with two sticks by a pro-Khalistan supporter. He also shared videos of Khalistani supporters on his Twitter account.

“Thank you @SecretService 4 my protection 2 days 4 for helping me get the job done otherwise I would be in the hospital writing this. The gentleman below hit my left ear with these 2 sticks and earlier I had to call 9/11 and rushed 2 police vans 4 security fear of physical assault,” Jha tweeted Sunday.

A statement from the Indian embassy condemned the attack on Indian journalist Lalit Jha, further saying: “We condemn this serious and unprovoked attack on a senior journalist. Such activities only highlight the so-called’ violent and anti-social tendencies.” Khalistani protesters and their supporters, who regularly engage in wanton violence and vandalism.”

“At one point I felt very dangerous so I called 911. Then I found the Secret Service officers and told them about the incident,” Jha told ANI.

However, the reporter decided to take no action against those who questioned him.

“Pro-Khalistan protesters supporting Amritpal Singh waved Khalistan flags and attacked the embassy in the presence of the US Secret Service. They even publicly threatened to vandalize the embassy and threatened Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu,” Jha told ANI.

The protesters included hooded men of all ages who chanted slogans in support of Khalistan. They come from different parts of the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region. Organizers used microphones to deliver anti-India speeches in English and Punjabi and targeted Punjab police officers suspected of human rights abuses.

There have been multiple protests by Khalistan supporters outside the Indian embassy and consulate in San Francisco. Earlier this week, the Indian Consulate in San Francisco was also attacked on March 20.

Videos shared online showed a large mob waving Khalistan flags on wooden poles and using them to smash glass doors and windows of the consulate building. They held up slogans in support of Khalistan as they broke through a makeshift security barrier erected by city police and raised two Kharistan flags inside the venue.

The United States has strongly condemned the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco by a group of separatist Sikhs, saying it was absolutely unacceptable.

The United States condemned the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco and any attack on diplomatic facilities in the United States. The United States has pledged to defend the safety and security of these facilities and the diplomats working within them.

“The United States condemns the attack on the Indian consulate and any attack on diplomatic facilities within the United States. We are committed to defending the security of these facilities and the diplomats working within them,” a State Department spokesperson told ANI .

U.S. National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan tweeted that the U.S. condemned the violence against the Indian consulate in San Francisco. He further stated that the United States is committed to the safety and security of Indian diplomats. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)