Washington: Khalistan supporters attempted to stir violence in front of the Indian embassy in Washington, but prompt action by the US Secret Service and local police stopped a repeat of the mission's damage in San Francisco and London.
Separatist Sikhs, who gathered outside the embassy, hurled abusive language and openly threatened Indian ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Sandhu was not in the embassy at the time of the protest.
A senior journalist, who was at the scene, was also physically assaulted by Khalistan supporters, drawing a strong reaction from the Indian mission which said such activities underscore the violent and anti-social tendencies of these separatists.
Pro-Khalistan protesters kept interrupting the reporter by standing in front of the camera and covering his face. They continued to shove him, scream at him, and scare him with severe repercussions.
The Secret Service and police deployed additional resources and called in reinforcements when they saw that things might get out of hand. In front of the embassy, at least three police vans were positioned. Five demonstrators were on the verge of breaking into embassy premises at one point before they were asked to leave.
A large number of Indian-American community members held a peace rally in support of India in front of its consulate in San Francisco that was vandalised by separatist Sikhs early this week. A group of pro-Khalistan protesters attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Raising pro-Khalistan slogans, the protesters broke open the makeshift security barriers raised by the city police and installed two so-called Khalistani flags inside the Consulate premises.